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Abstract
Schwannoma is the most common benign tumor of peripheral nerves and usually appears on the trunk, head and neck, or extremities. A mass arising at popliteal fossa can be misdiagnosed as a popliteal cyst. We report on a rare case of a popliteal schwannoma mimicking a popliteal cyst in a 39-year-old female who showed a clinical presentation similar to that of a popliteal cyst. Diagnosis was delayed until ultrasonographic evaluation was performed due to its anatomical location, the same as that of a popliteal cyst. We describe the clinical significance and ultrasonographic findings of the schwannoma for initial differential diagnosis from a popliteal cyst.
Figures and Tables
Figure 2
Ultrasonographic findings showing a well-defined, hypoechoic oval shaped nodular mass filled with nonhomogeneous components (A) and tibial nerve fascicular continuity at its proximal end (B). (C) Compression of the popliteal vein was observed at the bottom of the mass.
Figure 3
Magnetic resonance imaging findings of the mass. Saggital T1- (A), T2- (B), and axial T2 contrast enhanced-weighted images demonstrating a well-marginated mass with hypointense (A), hyperintense (B), inner heterogeneous (C) signals, respectively.
Figure 4
Photograph of the right popliteal fossa mass at surgery, which confirmed a well-defined mass originating from the tibial nerve branch (A) and an enucleated mass, 5×4×3 cm in size (B).
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