Intranodal Neurofibroma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Am J Dermatopathol. 2022 Apr 1;44(4):306-311. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000002137.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of neurofibroma involving the lymph nodes and to perform a literature review on this topic.

Observations: A 72-year-old woman with a history of neurofibromatosis and biopsy-proven malignant melanoma of the left forearm underwent wide local excision of the malignant lesion along with sentinel axillary lymph node biopsy. Histological examination of axillary nodes revealed diffuse neurofibromatosis within 2 lymph node capsules. A thorough review of the English literature pertaining to intranodal neurofibroma was performed by querying Google Scholar and PubMed. Only 5 cases of intranodal neurofibroma have been described until now.

Conclusions and importance: Neurofibroma involving the lymph nodes is rare and this is the first reported case that is shown to diffusely involve the intracapsular space. Furthermore, intranodal neurofibroma can represent a diagnostic pitfall in the evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes for metastatic melanoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Axilla
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Forearm
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / complications
  • Melanoma / diagnosis*
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / complications
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology
  • Neurofibroma / complications
  • Neurofibroma / diagnosis*
  • Neurofibroma / pathology
  • Neurofibromatoses*
  • Sentinel Lymph Node / pathology*
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology