Journal of Neuro-Oncology

, Volume 104, Issue 2, pp 605–610 | Cite as

Sporadic primary malignant intracerebral nerve sheath tumors: case report and literature review

  • Zachary Rollins Barnard
  • Pankaj Kumar Agarwalla
  • Deva Sanjeeva Jeyaretna
  • Christopher James Farrell
  • Elizabeth Robins Gerstner
  • Di Tian
  • William Thomas CurryJr.
Case Report
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

We report the case of a seventy-five year old woman with a sporadic primary malignant intracerebral nerve sheath tumor (MINST). These tumors fall within the spectrum of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) but confirming the diagnosis of a MINST can be difficult due to its rarity and unusual intraparenchymal location. Radiographically, MINST’s mimic malignant glioma and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of enhancing cerebral lesions. In this report, we present a comprehensive panel of histological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and genetic considerations that may be used to diagnosis MINST based on their similarities to MPNSTs and brain parenchyma location.

Keywords

MINST MPNST Schwannoma Spindle cell neoplasm 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. 1.
    Stefanko SZ, Vuzevski VD, Maas AI, van Vroonhoven CC (1986) Intracerebral malignant schwannoma. Acta Neuropathol 71:321–325PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Singh RV, Suys S, Campbell DA, Broome JC (1993) Malignant schwannoma of the cerebellum: case report. Surg Neurol 39:128–132PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Sharma S, Abbott RI, Zagzag D (1998) Malignant intracerebral nerve sheath tumor: a case report and review of the literature. Cancer 82:545–552PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Tanaka M, Shibui S, Nomura K, Nakanishi Y, Hasegawa T, Hirose T (2000) Malignant intracerebral nerve sheath tumor with intratumoral calcification. Case report. J Neurosurg 92:338–341PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Beauchesne P, Mosnier JF, Schmitt T, Brunon J (2004) Malignant nerve sheath tumor of the right cerebral peduncle: case report. Neurosurgery 54:500–503 discussion 503–504PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Kozic D, Nagulic M, Samardzic M, Ostojic J, Rasulic L, Cvetkovic-Dozic D (2008) Intrapontine malignant nerve sheath tumor: MRI and MRS features. Acta Neurol Belg 108:67–71PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Bruner JM, Humphreys JH, Armstrong DL (1984) Immunocytochemistry of recurring intracerebral nerve sheath tumor. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 43:1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Gupta G, Maniker A (2007) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Neurosurg Focus 22:12CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Hirose T, Sumitomo M, Kudo E, Hasegawa T, Teramae T, Murase M, Higasa Y, Ikata T, Hizawa K (1989) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) showing perineurial cell differentiation. Am J Surg Pathol 13:613–620PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Daimaru Y, Hashimoto H, Enjoji M (1985) Malignant peripheral nerve-sheath tumors (malignant schwannomas). An immunohistochemical study of 29 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 9:434–444PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Hajdu SI (1993) Peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Histogenesis, classification, and prognosis. Cancer 72:3549–3552PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Ducatman BS, Scheithauer BW, Piepgras DG, Reiman HM, Ilstrup DM (1986) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. A clinicopathologic study of 120 cases. Cancer 57:2006–2021PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Bhattacharyya AK, Perrin R, Guha A (2004) Peripheral nerve tumors: management strategies and molecular insights. J Neurooncol 69:335–349PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Cunha KS, Caruso AC, Goncalves AS, Bernardo VG, Pires AR, da Fonseca EC, de Faria PA, da Silva LE, Geller M, de Moura-Neto RS, Lopes VS (2009) Validation of tissue microarray technology in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours. J Clin Pathol 62:629–633PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Rees J (2003) Advances in magnetic resonance imaging of brain tumours. Curr Opin Neurol 16:643–650PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Ueda R, Saito R, Horiguchi T, Nakamura Y, Ichikizaki K (2004) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in the anterior skull base associated with neurofibromatosis type 1—case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 44:38–42CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Oztanir N, Emmez H, Aytar MH, Dogan M, Kaymaz M, Baykaner MK (2009) Malignant intracerebral giant nerve sheath tumor in a 14-month-old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report. Childs Nerv Syst 25:253–256PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Wong WW, Hirose T, Scheithauer BW, Schild SE, Gunderson LL (1998) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: analysis of treatment outcome. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 42:351–360PubMedGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Ferner RE, Gutmann DH (2002) International consensus statement on malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in neurofibromatosis. Cancer Res 62:1573–1577PubMedGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Berger M, Prados M (eds) (2005) Textbook of Neuro-oncology. Elsevier Saunders, PhiladelphiaGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Zachary Rollins Barnard
    • 1
    • 2
  • Pankaj Kumar Agarwalla
    • 1
  • Deva Sanjeeva Jeyaretna
    • 1
  • Christopher James Farrell
    • 1
  • Elizabeth Robins Gerstner
    • 3
    • 4
  • Di Tian
    • 5
  • William Thomas CurryJr.
    • 1
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery)Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUSA
  2. 2.Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery)Massachusetts General HospitalBostonUSA
  3. 3.Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-OncologyMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterBostonUSA
  4. 4.Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUSA
  5. 5.Department of PathologyMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUSA

Personalised recommendations