Neurofibromatosis and malignant schwannomas in Tanzania

In a five-year-period, twenty three cases of peripheral nerve tumours were seen at the pathology department of Muhimbili Medical Centre. Nine of these had von-Recklinghausen's disease (neurofibromatosis). One of these patients developed malignant schwannomas at two different sites simultaneously. Patients with malignant disease in Tanzania as in other sub-Saharan African countries usually get to the large referral hospitals late in the course of their disease. Despite this delay and the advanced nature of their illness, attempts should be made to achieve satisfactory palliative results.