Giant intrapulmonary malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour

Pulmonary malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) are extremely rare soft tissue sarcomas that develop from the cell constituting the nerve sheaths, approximately 5-10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. We present a rare case of primary lung MPNST in an adult female non-smoker patient, in whom surgical thoracotomy approach has obtained a good control of the disease. Low-grade MPNST was established from excisional biopsy followed by immunohistochemistry.

Resection of a Huge Intrathoracic Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, also known as malignant schwannoma, are rare soft tissue sarcomas. They commonly invade axial sites and rarely do they occur in the thorax. Herein, we present the case of an enormous metastatic multilobulated intrathoracic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor that was first misdiagnosed as desmoid fibromatosis and successfully resected for palliative purpose.

Successful treatment with doxorubicin and ifosfamide for mediastinal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with loss of H3K27me3 expression

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) in the thorax is an extremely rare disease, and half of all cases of MPNST are associated with neurofibromatosis type I. Sporadic intrathoracic MPNST is difficult to diagnose and treat. Because of the rarity of intrathoracic MPNST, the optimal method of diagnosis and the efficacy of chemotherapy are unknown. Herein, we present a case of inoperable mediastinal MPNST, in which the diagnosis was immunohistochemically made by the loss of H3K27me3 expression in a transbronchial needle biopsy specimen. The patient showed a good response to doxorubicin plus ifosfamide chemotherapy. The present case highlights that MPNST should be included in the differential diagnosis of non‐posterior mediastinum thoracic lesions, and that appropriate diagnosis and treatment for intrathoracic MPNST should be considered in patients with a thoracic mass.

Intrathoracic peripheral nerve sheath tumors-a clinicopathological study of 75 cases

Although peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are common in the posterior mediastinum, they are rare in other mediastinal compartments and in the pleuropulmonary parenchyma. We sought to characterize the clinicopathological features of PNSTs occurring in the lung, pleura, and mediastinum. Diagnoses were confirmed by slide review. Study cases include 21 benign pleuropulmonary PNSTs, 49 benign mediastinal PNSTs, and 5 malignant PNSTs. Benign pleuropulmonary tumors comprised 13 schwannomas, 6 neurofibromas, 1 perineurioma, and 1 ganglioneuroma. Six lesions were endobronchial (3 neurofibromas, 1 schwannoma, 1 perineurioma, 1 ganglioneuroma), whereas the remaining schwannomas and neurofibromas formed parenchymal masses (usually pleural based). Benign mediastinal PNSTs (46 posterior, 2 middle, and 1 anterior) were all schwannomas and showed a female predominance. None of the patients with benign PNSTs experienced recurrence. Of the 5 malignant PNSTs, 4 were pleuropulmonary (3 pleural based) and 1 occurred in the anterior mediastinum. Two of the 5 patients had a history of neurofibromatosis type 1 (aged 27 and 45 years). At last follow-up, 3 of the 5 patients had died of disease, 1 was alive with disease, and 1 was alive with no evidence of disease (41 months). Although rare, a wide histologic range of PNSTs occur in the lung. Although neurofibroma, perineurioma, and ganglioneuroma were observed as endobronchial lesions, most pulmonary schwannomas were pleural-based masses. Mediastinal PNSTs are dominated by posterior mediastinal schwannomas, although schwannomas rarely occur in the other mediastinal compartments as well. Malignant PNSTs are very rare in the thorax, where they show aggressive behavior.

[Intrathoracic giant peripheral nerve sheath tumor during Von Recklinghausen disease]

We report the case of a patient aged 23, admitted for bilateral intrathoracic tumor, including a giant right. Surgery was performed by right sternothoracotomy. After 7 days, she presented an irreversible cardiac arrest. The malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are rare and aggressive. Their incidence is 0.001% in the general population and 0.16% in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. These tumors are characterized by their risk of recurrence and poor prognosis. The treatment is the surgical resection. We analyze incidence, diagnosis and prognosis of these tumors.

Huge intrathoracic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in an adolescent with neurofibromatosis type 1

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare soft tissue malignancy usually found in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) with a poor outcome. Although MPNST can be found in any part of the body including head and neck or extremities, intrathoracic MPNST with or without NF1 is uncommon, especially in children or adolescents. Reported herein is a case of huge intrathoracic MPNST in a 16-year-old girl with NF1, and a brief review of the literature.

Intrathoracic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: imaging features and implications for management

Background

The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical and imaging characteristics of primary intrathoracic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs).

Patients and methods.

In this institutional review board (IRB)-approved retrospective study, clinical and imaging features of 15 patients (eight men; mean age 50 years [range 18–83)] with pathologically proven malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors seen from January 1999 to December 2011 were analyzed. Imaging features (CT in 15, MRI in 5 and PET/CT in 4) of primary tumors were evaluated by three radiologists and correlated with clinical management.

Results

Of the 15 tumors, six were located in the mediastinum (two each in anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum), four in chest wall, two were paraspinal, and three in the lung. Four patients had neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1); four tumors had heterologous rhabdomyoblastic differentiation (malignant triton tumor). Masses typically were elongated along the direction of nerves, with mean size of 11 cm. The masses were hypo- or isodense to muscles on CT, isointense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images and intensely fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avid (mean standardized uptake value [SUV]_max of 10.5 [range 4.4–23.6]). Necrosis and calcification was seen in four tumors each. Finding of invasion of adjacent structures on imaging led to change in management in seven patients; patients with invasion received chemoradiation.

Conclusions

Intrathoracic MPNSTs appear as large elongated masses involving mediastinum, lung or chest wall. Radiological identification of invasion of adjacent structures is crucial and alters therapy, with patients with invasion receiving neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemoradiation.

Radiologic signs in thoracic imaging: case-based review and self-assessment module

OBJECTIVE

Chest imaging remains one of the most complicated sub-specialties of diagnostic radiology. The successful interpretation of thoracic imaging studies requires the recognition and understanding of the radiologic signs that are characteristic of many complex disease processes.

CONCLUSION

The educational objectives for this case-based self-assessment module are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her understanding of important thoracic radiologic signs that are useful in establishing the diagnosis of particular diseases of the chest.