Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
15th National Conference of the IAOMFP, Chennai, 2006
Abstract
Abstracts from current literature
Acne in India: Guidelines for management - IAA Consensus Document
Addendum
Announcement
Art & Psychiatry
Article
Articles
Association Activities
Association Notes
Award Article
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Analysis
Case Letter
Case Letters
Case Notes
Case Report
Case Reports
Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
Clinical Article
Clinical Studies
Clinical Study
Commentary
Conference Oration
Conference Summary
Continuing Medical Education
Correspondence
Corrigendum
Cosmetic Dermatology
Cosmetology
Current Best Evidence
Current Issue
Current View
Derma Quest
Dermato Surgery
Dermatopathology
Dermatosurgery Specials
Dispensing Pearl
Do you know?
Drug Dialogues
e-IJDVL
Editor Speaks
Editorial
Editorial Remarks
Editorial Report
Editorial Report - 2007
Editorial report for 2004-2005
Errata
Erratum
Focus
Fourth All India Conference Programme
From Our Book Shelf
From the Desk of Chief Editor
General
Get Set for Net
Get set for the net
Guest Article
Guest Editorial
History
How I Manage?
IADVL Announcement
IADVL Announcements
IJDVL Awards
IJDVL AWARDS 2015
IJDVL Awards 2018
IJDVL Awards 2019
IJDVL Awards 2020
IJDVL International Awards 2018
Images in Clinical Practice
Images in Dermatology
In Memorium
Inaugural Address
Index
Knowledge From World Contemporaries
Leprosy Section
Letter in Response to Previous Publication
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor - Case Letter
Letter to the Editor - Letter in Response to Published Article
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Letter to the Editor - Observation Letter
Letter to the Editor - Study Letter
Letter to the Editor - Therapy Letter
Letter to the Editor: Articles in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters in Response to Previous Publication
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor - Letter in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters to the Editor: Case Letters
Letters to the Editor: Letters in Response to Previously Published Articles
Media and news
Medicolegal Window
Messages
Miscellaneous Letter
Musings
Net Case
Net case report
Net Image
Net Images
Net Letter
Net Quiz
Net Study
New Preparations
News
News & Views
Obituary
Observation Letter
Observation Letters
Oration
Original Article
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Original Contributions
Pattern of Skin Diseases
Pearls
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric Rounds
Perspective
Presedential Address
Presidential Address
Presidents Remarks
Quiz
Recommendations
Regret
Report
Report of chief editor
Report of Hon : Treasurer IADVL
Report of Hon. General Secretary IADVL
Research Methdology
Research Methodology
Resident page
Resident's Page
Resident’s Page
Residents' Corner
Residents' Corner
Residents' Page
Retraction
Review
Review Article
Review Articles
Reviewers 2022
Revision Corner
Self Assessment Programme
SEMINAR
Seminar: Chronic Arsenicosis in India
Seminar: HIV Infection
Short Communication
Short Communications
Short Report
Snippets
Special Article
Specialty Interface
Studies
Study Letter
Study Letters
Supplement-Photoprotection
Supplement-Psoriasis
Symposium - Contact Dermatitis
Symposium - Lasers
Symposium - Pediatric Dermatoses
Symposium - Psoriasis
Symposium - Vesicobullous Disorders
SYMPOSIUM - VITILIGO
Symposium Aesthetic Surgery
Symposium Dermatopathology
Symposium-Hair Disorders
Symposium-Nails Part I
Symposium-Nails-Part II
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis
Tables
Technology
Therapeutic Guideline-IADVL
Therapeutic Guidelines
Therapeutic Guidelines - IADVL
Therapeutics
Therapy
Therapy Letter
Therapy Letters
View Point
Viewpoint
What’s new in Dermatology
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
15th National Conference of the IAOMFP, Chennai, 2006
Abstract
Abstracts from current literature
Acne in India: Guidelines for management - IAA Consensus Document
Addendum
Announcement
Art & Psychiatry
Article
Articles
Association Activities
Association Notes
Award Article
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Analysis
Case Letter
Case Letters
Case Notes
Case Report
Case Reports
Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
Clinical Article
Clinical Studies
Clinical Study
Commentary
Conference Oration
Conference Summary
Continuing Medical Education
Correspondence
Corrigendum
Cosmetic Dermatology
Cosmetology
Current Best Evidence
Current Issue
Current View
Derma Quest
Dermato Surgery
Dermatopathology
Dermatosurgery Specials
Dispensing Pearl
Do you know?
Drug Dialogues
e-IJDVL
Editor Speaks
Editorial
Editorial Remarks
Editorial Report
Editorial Report - 2007
Editorial report for 2004-2005
Errata
Erratum
Focus
Fourth All India Conference Programme
From Our Book Shelf
From the Desk of Chief Editor
General
Get Set for Net
Get set for the net
Guest Article
Guest Editorial
History
How I Manage?
IADVL Announcement
IADVL Announcements
IJDVL Awards
IJDVL AWARDS 2015
IJDVL Awards 2018
IJDVL Awards 2019
IJDVL Awards 2020
IJDVL International Awards 2018
Images in Clinical Practice
Images in Dermatology
In Memorium
Inaugural Address
Index
Knowledge From World Contemporaries
Leprosy Section
Letter in Response to Previous Publication
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor - Case Letter
Letter to the Editor - Letter in Response to Published Article
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Letter to the Editor - Observation Letter
Letter to the Editor - Study Letter
Letter to the Editor - Therapy Letter
Letter to the Editor: Articles in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters in Response to Previous Publication
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor - Letter in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters to the Editor: Case Letters
Letters to the Editor: Letters in Response to Previously Published Articles
Media and news
Medicolegal Window
Messages
Miscellaneous Letter
Musings
Net Case
Net case report
Net Image
Net Images
Net Letter
Net Quiz
Net Study
New Preparations
News
News & Views
Obituary
Observation Letter
Observation Letters
Oration
Original Article
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Original Contributions
Pattern of Skin Diseases
Pearls
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric Rounds
Perspective
Presedential Address
Presidential Address
Presidents Remarks
Quiz
Recommendations
Regret
Report
Report of chief editor
Report of Hon : Treasurer IADVL
Report of Hon. General Secretary IADVL
Research Methdology
Research Methodology
Resident page
Resident's Page
Resident’s Page
Residents' Corner
Residents' Corner
Residents' Page
Retraction
Review
Review Article
Review Articles
Reviewers 2022
Revision Corner
Self Assessment Programme
SEMINAR
Seminar: Chronic Arsenicosis in India
Seminar: HIV Infection
Short Communication
Short Communications
Short Report
Snippets
Special Article
Specialty Interface
Studies
Study Letter
Study Letters
Supplement-Photoprotection
Supplement-Psoriasis
Symposium - Contact Dermatitis
Symposium - Lasers
Symposium - Pediatric Dermatoses
Symposium - Psoriasis
Symposium - Vesicobullous Disorders
SYMPOSIUM - VITILIGO
Symposium Aesthetic Surgery
Symposium Dermatopathology
Symposium-Hair Disorders
Symposium-Nails Part I
Symposium-Nails-Part II
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis
Tables
Technology
Therapeutic Guideline-IADVL
Therapeutic Guidelines
Therapeutic Guidelines - IADVL
Therapeutics
Therapy
Therapy Letter
Therapy Letters
View Point
Viewpoint
What’s new in Dermatology
View/Download PDF

Translate this page into:

Letter to the Editor
2011:77:2;204-205
doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.77469
PMID: 21393958

Pacinian neurofibroma: A rare neurogenic tumor

Amiya Kumar Nath1 , Dependra Kumar Timshina1 , Devinder Mohan Thappa1 , Debdatta Basu2
1 Department of Dermatology and STD, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry - 605 006, India
2 Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry - 605 006, India

Correspondence Address:
Devinder Mohan Thappa
Department of Dermatology and STD, JIPMER, Pondicherry - 605 006
India
How to cite this article:
Nath AK, Timshina DK, Thappa DM, Basu D. Pacinian neurofibroma: A rare neurogenic tumor. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2011;77:204-205
Copyright: (C)2011 Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology

Sir,

Pacinian neurofibroma (PN) is a rare tumor of neural origin histopathologically characterized by the formation of components resembling Pacinian corpuscles within the lobules of the tumor. [1] It usually occurs as a solitary nodule, most often on the hands and feet, where Pacinian corpuscles are usually concentrated. [2],[3] Lesions may occur elsewhere also. [1],[2] Diagnosis is established by histopathology features, which may be variable. We report a case of PN which presented as a slowly growing tumor on the forearms.A 17-year-old boy presented with an asymptomatic, well-defined, irregular, sessile, slow-growing tumor [Figure - 1] on the extensor aspect of right forearm of 3 years duration. The onset was spontaneous without any history of antecedent trauma. The swelling was fully excised earlier at a local hospital, but it recurred and kept on increasing in size. There were hyperpigmentation and growth of coarse, terminal hair on the surface of the swelling. On palpation, the tumor was non-tender, firm, lobulated, and freely mobile with negative "button holing" sign. Histopathological examination of an incisional biopsy specimen revealed non-encapsulated but well-delineated dermal lobules composed of relatively hypocellular central core surrounded by multiple (up to 20) layers of collagenous lamellae [Figure - 2]. The lobules contained elliptical or spindle-shaped nuclei both in the central core and in the surrounding lamellae [Figure - 3]. There was merging of the concentric lamellae with the collagen fibers of the adjacent dermis. The tissue around the lobules was cellular and contained poorly formed nerve bundles. There were normal eccrine glands in some areas, but no vascular spaces were seen. Minimal mucinous alteration of the stroma was seen. S100 staining was moderately reactive, which confirmed the neural origin of the tumor. CD34 staining was done and it was negative. A diagnosis of PN was made based upon the above-mentioned features. The patient was referred to the plastic surgery department for excision of the tumor.

Figure 1: Well-defined, irregular, sessile tumor on the extensor aspect of right forearm
Figure 2: Photomicrograph showing well-delineated dermal lobules composed of relatively hypocellular central core surrounded by multiple (up to 20) layers of collagenous lamellae. Elliptical or spindle-shaped nuclei are seen both in the central core and in the surrounding lamellae (H and E, ×100)
Figure 3: Close up image of Pacinian corpuscle like formations (H and E, ×200)

PN was first described by Thoma in 1894, later by Prichard and Custer in 1952 as well as by Prose et al, in 1957. [3] Over the years, many authors have either described other tumors as PN or described PN under various other terms, some of which are used synonymously while the others are misnomer or represent other tumors. Fibrous (dermal) perineurioma (perineurioma refers to tumors of perineural cells) and sclerosing (subcutaneous) perineurioma have been recently used to describe PN; however, some authors feel that the term pacinian perineurial cell fibroma would better represent this tumor. [4] The term pacinioma represents hamartomatous overgrowth of mature Vater-Pacinian corpuscles. [5] PN should be differentiated from Pacinian hypertrophy and Pacinian hyperplasia where the classic structure of Pacinian corpuscles is well maintained. PN, on the other hand, exhibits Pacinian corpuscles-like differentiation within a myxoid stroma. [6],[7] PN is different from ordinary neurofibroma. Ordinary neurfibroma may show occasional mature Pacinian corpuscles, but typical histopathology of PN is not seen in ordinary neurofibroma. [6]

PN usually presents as solitary, firm, well-marginated, mobile nodule. [1],[2] Multiple lesions are rare. [1] Other morphological pattern that have been described in PN are papular lesions, ulcerated tumor, pedunculated nodule, multiple soft plaques, or just surface pigmentation. Most often, they occur on the hands and feet, but other reported sites of occurrence are buttocks, neck, flank, maxilla, arm, cheek, and sacrococcygeal region. [1],[2] Pressure on the nerve bundles may cause pain. [3] Multiple PNs have been associated with marked vascular changes of the glomus type of arteriovenous anastomosis. [2] No association with neurofibromatosis has been found. [1]

Histopathologically, a typical PN tumor is well demarcated, often an encapsulated mass containing round or ovoid lobules, each showing a central homogeneous, acellular, eosinophilic core surrounded by as many as 30 pale-staining, concentric collagenous lamellae. [3] These formations greatly resemble Pacinian corpuscles. [8] The size of these corpuscles is variable. The superficial corpuscles tend to be smaller (4-7 lamellae). [3] The more immature one′s have many cellular elements with spindle-shaped nuclei. [2] However, the more mature PN shows histopathology like mature Pacinian corpuscles. [2] There may be merging of the concentric lamellae with the collagen fibers of adjacent dermis. [3] In some tumors, the tissue around the lobules is cellular and contains poorly formed nerve bundles. [8] In such areas, the lobules contain numerous, elliptic or spindle-shaped nuclei both in the central core and in the surrounding lamellae; nuclei are reduced in number in mature lesions. Mucinous alteration of the stroma may be seen. [8]

PN is a very rare tumor. To the best of our knowledge, only single case of PN of the scalp has been reported from India. [9] Thus our case is the second report of this rare tumor from India.

References
1.
McCormack K, Kaplan D, Murray JC, Fetter BF. Multiple hairy pacinian neurofibromas (nerve-sheath myxomas). J Am Acad Dermatol 1988;18:416-9.
[Google Scholar]
2.
Levi L, Curri SB. Multiple Pacinian neurofibroma and relationship with the finger-tip arterio-venous anastomoses. Br J Dermatol 1980;102:345-9.
[Google Scholar]
3.
Bennin B, Barsky S, Salgia K. Pacinian neurofibroma. Arch Dermatol 1976;112:1558.
[Google Scholar]
4.
Reed RJ, Pulitzer DR. Tumors of neural tissue. In: Elder DE, editor. Lever's Histopathology of the Skin. 10 th ed. New Delhi: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2009. p. 1133-34.
th ed. New Delhi: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2009. p. 1133-34.'>[Google Scholar]
5.
Weedon D, Strutton G, editors. Skin Pathology. 2 nd ed. China: Churchill/Livingstone Elsevier Science Ltd; 2002. p. 984.
[Google Scholar]
6.
Fraitag S, Gherardi R, Wechsler J. Hyperplastic pacinian corpuscles: An uncommonly encountered lesion of the hand. J Cutan Pathol 1994;21:457-60.
[Google Scholar]
7.
Yan S, Horangic NJ, Harris BT. Hypertrophy of pacinian corpuscles in a young patient with neurofibromatosis. Am J Dermatopathol 2006;28:202-4.
[Google Scholar]
8.
Lever WF, Schaumberg-Lever G. Histopathology of the Skin. 6 th ed. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company; 1983. p. 673-4.
[Google Scholar]
9.
Deshpande GU, Bhatoe HS, Rai R, Panicker NK, Ramji R. Pacinian neurofibroma of scalp. Med J Armed Forces India 1997;53:135-6.
[Google Scholar]

Fulltext Views
3,596

PDF downloads
2,311
Show Sections