[Neurogenic tumors of the ano-rectal region]

Neurilemmoma and Neurofibroma are benign tumours of the peripheral nerves that originate from the Schwann Cells. The finding of these tumours in the gastrointestinal tract in absence of generalized neurofibromatosis is uncommon and their presence in the anorectal area is extremely rare. From review of the literature we found only 34 cases of anorectal neurilemmoma. We report two patients, one with a rectal neurilemmoma and another with a perianal neurofibroma without a coexisting Von Recklinghausen's disease in either. In both cases they were asymptomatic and the surgical procedure performed was the simple tumorectomy which was diagnostic and curative. The literature on this subject is reviewed with particular attention to the possible malignant degeneration and the choice of the surgical approaches.