[Scar neuroma following tumor operations of the head and neck. Immunohistologic studies, differential diagnosis, therapy].

Amputation neuromas occasionally follow division of the cervical plexus during classical neck dissection. They present as painful, subcutaneous, and fixed tumours. They must be removed to exclude recurrence of the primary disease. The differential diagnosis includes neurilemmoma, solitary neurofibroma, neurofibromatosis, neuro-muscular hamartoma, and benign myxoid tumours. Histological diagnosis is particularly easy especially if immunohistochemistry with markers against neural tissues is used. However, to prevent recurrence, the central nerve stump should be exposed, ligated after removal of the neuroma and then transposed to scar free subcutaneous tissue.