Intraneural lipomatous tumor of the median nerve: Three case reports with a review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Intraneural lipoma and fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the nerve are rare soft tissue tumors that most commonly occur in the forearm and the wrist, and particularly within the median nerve. When the lesions are large enough, they may cause progressive compression neuropathy. They are distinct entities each other with different clinical and radiological findings and thereby need different surgical treatments. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report here 3 cases of intraneural lipomatous tumors of the median nerve (1 case of intraneural lipoma and 2 cases of fibrolipomatous hamartoma). DISCUSSION: All patients were surgically treated successfully with complete excision for intraneural lipoma and with carpal tunnel releases for the both fibrolipomatous hamartomas.
CONCLUSION: A careful preoperative planning is necessary for the optimal treatment by distinguishing whether it is a resectable or non-resectable tumor based on the clinical and radiological findings, because they have characteristic findings each other.