[Retroperitoneal tumors of nervous origin in adults]

Adult's retroperitoneal tumours of nervous origin are infrequent clinical entities with characteristic evolution and treatment. We review 13 cases, dealt with in N. Gh. Lupu Surgical Clinic between 1975-1994 and representing 20% of the retroperitoneal tumour admitted in our clinic during the same period. Most of the patients were males (sex ratio 10:3). The main symptom was the abdominal pain (84.6% of all cases) and all the tumours were extremely big (15-30 cm diameter). The surgical approach always tried to remove the tumour, which succeeded, even if in 4 cases some of the surrounding organs had to be removed also. The two postoperative complications consisted in a severe wound infection and an acute pancreatitis; the second evolved poorly and the patient was lost. No complementary therapy was used. None of the five patients followed up for five years presented clinical evidence of recurrent tumour.

Due to an unexplained evolutive tolerance, adult's retroperitoneal tumours of nervous origin reach large dimensions and have late clinical expression, as the complications occur. Preoperative imagistic findings supply valuable informations for the subsequent surgical treatment. The surgical approach must aim to the ablation of the tumour, with or without the sacrifice of other organs which the tumours can include. This aggressive surgical conduite is sustained by the satisfying postoperative results.