Giant Schwannoma of the Ulnar Nerve Compressing Ulnar Artery

Schwannomas are peripheral nerve tumors that have a relatively slow-growing pattern usually presenting with compressing symptoms. Treatment is excision of mass, but it is important to decide whether radical excision/nerve grafting or nerve-sparing surgery using intra/extracapsular approach should be performed. Besides that, scarification or preservation of nerve fascicles inside the capsule should be considered during surgery. A case with a giant Schwannoma of the ulnar nerve is presented. Tumor was excised using intracapsular approach enabling salvaging of ulnar artery and healthy ulnar nerve fascicles. Patient's early and late postoperative neurological examination did not show any decline compared to preoperative examination. Intracapsular excision makes preservation of healthy fascicles possible while allowing total excision of the mass. Scarification of the fascicles inside the neural sheath of the tumor results in no neurological deficit. The aim of this study is presenting a case diagnosed in the late course with accompanying neural and vascular pathologies, and reviewal of possible treatment methods for maximizing neurological outcome while minimizing relapse.