Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare neurogenic malignant tumor. MPNST has aty-pical clinical symptoms and imaging presentations, difficult diagnosis, a high degree of malignancy, and poor prognosis. It usually occurs in the trunk, approximately 20% in the head and neck, and rarely in the mouth. This paper reports a case of MPNST of the tongue. A summary of the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of MPNST is presented in combination with a literature review to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Humans ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neurofibrosarcoma ; Tongue/pathology*

Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Recurrence ; Sciatic Nerve ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: Because the anatomical structure of the brachial plexus is very complex, surgical treatment of tumors in this region is challenging. Therefore, a lot of clinical and surgical experience is required for successful treatment; however, many neurosurgeons have difficulty accumulating this experience owing to the rarity of brachial plexus tumors. The purpose of this report is to share our surgical experience with brachial plexus tumor with other neurosurgeons.METHODS: The records of 18 consecutive patients with brachial plexus tumors who underwent surgical treatment between January 2010 and December 2017 in a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical approach was determined according to the tumor location and size, and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) was used in most of cases to prevent iatrogenic nerve injury during surgery. In addition, to evaluate the differences in tumor characteristics according to pathologic diagnosis, the tumors were divided twice into two groups, based on two separate classifications, and statistical analysis was performed.RESULTS: The 18 brachial plexus tumors comprised 15 (83.3%) benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors including schwannoma and neurofibroma, one (5.6%) malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, one (5.6%) benign tumor of non-neural sheath origin (neurogenic cyst), and one (5.6%) metastatic tumor (papillary carcinoma). The authors analyzed relationship between tumor size/location and tumor characteristic parameters such as age, size, right-left, and pathology. There were no statistically significant differences except a tendency of bigger tumor size in young age.CONCLUSION: For a successful surgical outcome, an appropriate surgical approach is essential, and the appropriate surgical approach is determined by the location and size of the tumor. Furthermore, applying IONM may prevent postoperative complications and it is favorable option for brachial plexus tumors surgery.
Brachial Plexus Neuropathies ; Brachial Plexus ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurilemmoma ; Neurofibroma ; Neurosurgeons ; Pathology ; Peripheral Nerves ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

Schwannomas are the most common benign nerve sheath tumors originating in Schwann cells. With special conditions like neurofibromatosis type 2 or entity called schwannomatosis, patients develop multiple schwannomas. But in clinical setting, distinguishing schwannomatosis from neurofibromatosis type 2 is challengeable. We describe 58-year-old male who presented with severe neuropathic pain, from schwannomatosis featuring multiple schwannomas of spine and trunk, and underwent surgical treatment. We demonstrate his radiologic and clinical findings, and discuss about important clinical features of this condition. To confirm schwannomatosis, we performed brain magnetic resonance imaging, and took his familial history. Staged surgery was done for pathological confirmation and relief of the pain. Schwannomatosis and neurofibromatosis type 2 are similar but different disease. There are diagnostic hallmarks of these conditions, including familial history, pathology, and brain imaging. Because of different prognosis, the two diseases must be distinguished, so diagnostic tests that are mentioned above should be performed in caution.
Brain ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neuralgia ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatosis 2 ; Neuroimaging ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Schwann Cells ; Spine*

We report a case of 46-year-old xanthoderm woman who was diagnosed as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors of right maxillary sinus, and have a literature review. Histology confirmed a diagnosis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. The woman had the right total maxillectomy and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. There is no local recurrence or metastasis of one year following up. Literature review revealed MPNST in the nasal cavity and para-nasal sinuses were not common with poor prognosis. The main cause of death is local recurrence and metastasis. Surgical resection showed more advantage than adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Female ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Neurilemmoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant

Seventy-three patients with spinal nerve sheath tumor who were surgically treated in our hospital during the years 2004-2010 were retrospectively reviewed with respect to recovery of neurological function, recurrence of the tumor and occurrence of kyphotic deformities. Preoperative clinical manifestations, imaging data, surgical records and follow-up results were comprehensively analyzed. The follow-up duration was 12-60 months with an average of 32.0 months. Out of the 73 cases enrolled, 69 had gradual recovery of sensation, motor and sphincter functions 1 week to 3 months after operation. Forty-six cases had incomplete paralysis, whose American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grades, however, were gradually increased during the follow-up period, 4 cases had no significant improvement of the clinical symptoms and no change in ASIA grades during the follow-up period. Two cases had postoperative recurrence of the tumor. There were no deaths, no spinal instability, and no kyphotic malformations found in any cases. Our study indicated that complete removal of the tumor is important for good recovery, and an ideal surgical method may reduce the recurrence of the tumor or the occurrence of complications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangiosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leiomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pulmonary Blastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology

Diagnosis, Differential ; Fetus ; Fibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosarcoma ; congenital ; genetics ; metabolism ; secondary ; Hemangiopericytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Male ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; congenital ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of lipomatosis of nerve (NLS).

METHODSThe clinical, radiologic and pathologic features were analyzed in 15 cases of NLS.

RESULTSThere were a total of 10 males and 5 females. The age of patients ranged from 4 to 42 years (mean age = 22.4 years). Eleven cases were located in the upper limbs and 4 cases in the lower limbs. The median nerve was the most common involved nerve. The patients typically presented before 30 years of age (often at birth or in early childhood) with a soft and slowly enlarging mass in the limb, with or without accompanying motor and sensory deficits. Some cases also had macrodactyly and carpal tunnel syndrome. MRI showed the presence of fatty tissue between nerve fascicles, resembling coaxial cable in axial plane and assuming a spaghetti-like appearance in coronal plane. On gross examination, the affected nerve was markedly increased in length and diameter. It consisted of a diffusely enlarged greyish-yellow lobulated fusiform beaded mass within the epineural sheath. Histologically, the epineurium was infiltrated by fibrofatty tissue which separated, surrounded and compressed the usually normal-appearing nerve fascicles, resulting in perineural septation of nerve fascicles and microfascicle formation. The infiltration sometimes resulted in concentric arrangement of perineural cells and pseudo-onion bulb-like hypertrophic changes. The perineurial cells might proliferate, with thickening of collagen fibers, degeneration and atrophic changes of nerve bundles. Immunohistochemical study showed that the nerve fibers expressed S-100 protein, neurofilament and CD56 (weak). The endothelial cells and dendritic fibers were highlighted by CD34. The intravascular smooth muscle cells were positive for muscle-specific actin.

CONCLUSIONSNLS is a rare benign soft tissue tumor of peripheral nerve. The MRI findings are characteristic. A definitive diagnosis can be made with histologic examination of tissue biopsy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; CD56 Antigen ; metabolism ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; complications ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Extremities ; innervation ; Female ; Hand Deformities, Congenital ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Lipoma ; pathology ; Lipomatosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Median Nerve ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; pathology ; Neurofibroma ; pathology ; Neurofilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Neuroma ; pathology ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fingers ; Giant Cell Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Tendons ; Young Adult