Clinical course and predictors of outcome following surgical treatment of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors, a single center retrospective study

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of the 85 tumors.

Variables	Total (n = 85)
Tumor location
Upper extremity	35 (41%)
Lower extremity	34 (39%)
Head and neck	7 (9%)
Foot	4 (5%)
Trunk	3 (4%)
Hand	2 (2%)
Nerve
Brachial plexus	14 (17%)
Tibial	13 (15%)
Peroneal	11 (13%)
Ulnar	10 (12%)
Median	6 (7%)
Radial	6 (7%)
Femoral	5 (5%)
Sciatic	3 (4%)
Other	17 (19%)
Major nerve	56 (66%)
Histological tumor type
Schwannoma	76 (88%)
Neurofibroma	9 (12%)
Volume (cm^3)	Miss = 1
Median (IQR)	2.4 (1.1–6.9)
Extent of resection
Complete resection	77 (90%)
Partial resection	8 (10%)
Nerve preserved	76 (89%)
Surgery time (mins)
Median (IQR)	52.0 (32.0–86.5)
Follow-up time (months)
Median (IQR)	4 (2–8)
Complications^a	2 (2%)
Recurrence or regrowth	4 (5%)
Months to recurrence
Median (IQR)	58.8 (16.9–100.7)
Treatment of recurrent tumor
Surgical	2 (50%)
None	2 (50%)

^a Excluding postoperative neurologic deficit.

Table 2. Change compared to preoperative symptoms at follow-up.

Change	Pain	Sensory	Motor
Preoperative symptom (n)	82	21	9
Improved	77 (94%)	10 (48%)	7 (78%)
Complete resolution	65 (79%)	6 (29%)	5 (56%)
Partial improvement	12 (15%)	4 (19%)	2 (22%)
Persistent	0 (0%)	9 (43%)	2 (22%)
Worsened	5 (6%)	2 (10%)	0 (0%)
No preoperative symptom (n)	4	65	77
No new symptoms	4 (100%)	42 (65%)	70 (91%)
New symptoms	0 (0%)	23 (35%)	7 (9%)

Data is presented as number (proportion). 

Table 3. Regression analysis for the prediction of persistent or increased pain after surgery.

Characteristic	Univariable				Multivariable
	N	OR	95% CI	p-Value	OR	95% CI	p-Value
Sex	85	1.62	0.25, 12.8	0.61
Age	85	1.01	0.94, 1.07	0.84
Neurocutaneous syndrome	85	5.33	0.64, 36.7	0.087	6.58	0.70, 61.3	0.078
Tumor type	85	0.00		>0.99
Major nerve	85	2.11	0.29, 42.4	0.51
Upper extremity and hand	85	0.31	0.02, 2.23	0.31
Lower extremity and foot	85	5.53	0.78, 111	0.13
Head, neck and trunk	85	0.00		>0.99
Noticeable mass	85	0.40	0.06, 3.21	0.33
Symptom duration	80	1.00	0.97, 1.02	0.95
Volume	85	1.01	0.97, 1.04	0.37
Time to surgery	85	0.98	0.35, 1.39	0.93
Complete tumor resection	85	0.12	0.02, 1.04	0.035	0.10	0.01, 0.95	0.033

Bold represents significant p-values (p<0.05).

Table 4. Regression analysis for the prediction of persistent or increased sensory deficits after surgery.

Characteristic	Univariable				Multivariable
	N	OR	95% CI	p-Value	OR	95% CI	p-Value
Sex	85	2.38	0.99, 5.90	0.055	3.50	1.00, 13.6	0.057
Age	85	0.96	0.93, 1.00	0.032	0.91	0.85, 0.96	0.002
Neurocutaneous syndrome	85	2.01	0.56, 7.58	0.28
Tumor type	85	1.02	0.24, 3.88	0.97
Major nerve	85	1.74	0.69, 4.62	0.25
Upper extremity and hand	85	0.59	0.24, 1.42	0.24
Lower extremity and foot	85	2.20	0.92, 5.39	0.080	1.40	0.37, 5.44	0.62
Head, neck, and trunk	85	0.73	0.18, 2.55	0.64
Noticeable mass	85	0.87	0.31, 2.52	0.80
Symptom duration	80	1.00	0.99, 1.02	0.44
Volume	85	1.04	1.01, 1.08	0.050	1.09	1.03, 1.18	0.005
Time to surgery	85	1.12	0.89, 1.49	0.35
Complete tumor resection	85	0.63	0.14, 2.82	0.53

Bold represents significant p-values (p<0.05).

Table 5. Regression analysis for the prediction of persistent or increased motor deficits after surgery.

Characteristic	Univariable
	N	OR	95% CI	p-Value
Sex	85	0.49	0.10, 1.99	0.33
Age	85	0.96	0.91, 1.01	0.13
Neurocutaneous syndrome	85	2.16	0.29, 10.7	0.38
Tumor type	85	2.46	0.33, 12.5	0.31
Major nerve	85	1.89	0.42, 13.3	0.45
Upper extremity and hand	85	2.97	0.73, 14.9	0.14
Lower extremity and foot	85	0.33	0.05, 1.45	0.18
Head, neck, and trunk	85	1.91	0.26, 9.37	0.46
Noticeable mass	85	2.44	0.41, 46.8	0.41
Symptom duration	80	1.00	0.97, 1.01	0.84
Volume	85	1.03	1.00, 1.07	0.082
Time to surgery	85	1.18	0.85, 1.52	0.22
Complete tumor resection	85	NA	0.00, NA	>0.99

Table 6. Regression for the prediction of tumor recurrence .

Characteristic	Univariable
	N	OR	95% CI	p-Value
Sex	85	4.53	0.64, 90.6	0.19
Age	85	1.01	0.94, 1.07	0.84
Neurocutaneous syndrome	85	13.7	2.00, 117	0.006
Tumor type	85	2.00	0.10, 15.5	0.55
Major nerve	85	2.11	0.29, 42.4	0.51
Upper extremity and hand	85	0.31	0.02, 2.23	0.31
Lower extremity and foot	85	1.97	0.31, 15.6	0.47
Head, neck, and trunk	85	1.59	0.08, 12.1	0.69
Noticeable mass	85	0.40	0.06, 3.21	0.33
Symptom duration	80	0.97	0.89, 1.01	0.27
Volume	85	1.00	0.95, 1.03	0.81
Time to surgery	85	0.88	0.20, 1.35	0.74
Complete tumor resection	85	NA	0.00, NA	>0.99

Bold represents significant p-values (p<0.05).

Data availability statement

Data is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.