• plexiform neurofibroma
• thigh
• neurofibromatosis
• clinical characteristics
• diagnostic criteria
• surgical treatment

A 30-year-old woman presented to orthopaedic clinic with a 5-year history of severe pain and oedema of left lower limb. The patient denied experiencing any other constitutional symptoms and no history of trauma or surgery during the past years. Physical examination revealed multiple longitudinal tumours on the back of both thighs, with a maximum diameter of about 5 cm on the left side. The patient showed pressure pain and percussion pain in bilateral lower limbs, decreased sensation to pinprick and fine touch sensation of left lower extremity and exhibited a 5/5 strength in the left lower limb. Ultrasonography revealed several hypoechoic masses along the sciatic nerve in the soft tissue of bilateral lower limbs, which were beaded and varied in size. Moreover, the tibial nerve was involved on the left side from the outlet of piriformis muscle to the upper shin. The length of the lesion on the left side was about 53 cm, and the width was about …