Perineurioma of the sciatic nerve with reticular, microcystic, and pseudolipoblastic features: illustrative case

Perineuriomas are peripheral nerve sheath tumors that are composed of benign, localized proliferations of perineural cells and further subclassified as intraneural or extraneural (soft tissue) based on their relationship to the histological boundaries of the nerve. Multiple histological variants have been described, and herein the authors present the first known case of a pseudolipoblastic perineurioma affecting the nerve.

A 52-year-old woman presented with a 5-year history of progressive, severe left buttock pain radiating down to the top of her foot and ankle, without any associated weakness, with a large mass in her sciatic nerve noted on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She underwent resection, which demonstrated a pseudolipoblastic perineurioma of the sciatic nerve, an unusual histological subtype composed of perineurial cells with an abundant clear intracytoplasmic background. Postoperatively, her pain resolved, and follow-up MRI showed no tumor persistence or recurrence.

On imaging, this lesion had a benign appearance, with areas suggestive of subacute hemorrhage, and was associated with a nerve. Although the distinctive morphological features of this lesion may suggest liposarcoma, careful morphological evaluation and appropriate immunohistochemical studies allow its correct classification.