Soft tissue perineurioma of the foot with 10q24 rearrangements: unique MRI features with histopathologic correlation

Pediatric Soft Tissue Perineurioma in the Head and Neck

Soft tissue type perineuriomas (STP), or Extraneural perineuriomas, are typically found in the superficial extremities or trunk of adult patients. Their incidence in the head and neck is exceptionally rare, particularly amongst the pediatric population. Since 1978, only 19 cases of pediatric STP have been reported, with only one in the neck. This case report describes the second case of STP in the neck of a child as well as reviews the current literature on pediatric STP. The pattern of patient genetic anomalies associated with the few pediatric STP cases encountered suggests an association between genetic aberrations and STP. Clinicians should be aware of STP when formulating a differential diagnosis of pediatric soft tissue masses in the head and neck despite the rarity of this tumor.

Recurrent Fusion of the GRB2 Associated Binding Protein 1 (GAB1) Gene With ABL Proto-oncogene 1 (ABL1) in Benign Pediatric Soft Tissue Tumors

BACKGROUND/AIM

Fusions of the ABL proto-oncogene 1 gene (ABL1 in 9q34) are common in leukemias but rare in solid tumors. The most notable is the t(9;22)(q34;q11)/BCR-ABL1 coding for a chimeric tyrosine kinase. We herein report an ABL1-fusion in a pediatric tumor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

G-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were performed on a soft tissue perineurioma found in the left musculus erector spinae of a child.

RESULTS

A der(4)t(4;9)(q31;q34) and a fusion of the GRB2 associated binding protein 1 (GAB1 in 4q31) gene with ABL1 were found. A literature search revealed 3 more cases with similar genetic and clinicopathological characteristics: a soft tissue perineurioma with t(2;9;4)(p23;q34;q31) and ABL1 rearrangement, a soft tissue angiofibroma with a GAB1-ABL1 chimeric gene, and a solitary fibrous tumor carrying a der(4)t(4;9)(q31.1;q34).

CONCLUSION

GAB1-ABL1 is a recurrent fusion gene in benign pediatric tumors.

Association of intraneural perineurioma with neurofibromatosis type 2

BACKGROUND

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a genetic disorder characterized by mutations of the NF2 tumor suppressor gene that predisposes patients to develop multiple tumors in the peripheral and central nervous system. The most common neoplasms associated with the disease are schwannomas and meningiomas. Both have been shown to contain abnormalities in chromosome 22 and the NF2 gene, suggesting a genetic component to their pathogenesis. Perineuriomas are rare benign tumors arising from the perineural cells. They are commonly classified as intraneural and soft tissue perineuriomas. Several studies have reported mutations in genes on chromosome 22 in both types of perineuriomas, and there are reports of soft tissue perineuriomas associated with NF2 gene mutations. Despite this, perineuriomas are not considered as part of the NF2 constellation of tumors.

METHOD

The electronic medical records were searched for patients with a radiologic or pathologic diagnosis of intraneural perineurioma. Patients with clinical signs and genetic testing consistent with a diagnosis of NF2 were further evaluated.

RESULTS

Of 112 patients meeting inclusion criteria, there were two cases of intraneural perineurioma in patients with NF2 treated at our institution (1.8%). We include a third patient treated at another facility for whom we performed a virtual consultation.

CONCLUSIONS

The rarity of both NF2 and perineuriomas could explain the rarity of perineuriomas in the setting of NF2. Furthermore, there is divergent intraneural and soft tissue perineurioma somatic mutation pathogenesis, and there may be cytogenetic overlap between perineuriomas and multiple tumor syndromes. Our observed occurrence of intraneural perineurioma in the setting of NF2 in several patients provides further evidence of a potential link between the NF2 gene and the development of intraneural perineurioma.

Extraneural perineurioma: CT and MRI imaging characteristics

OBJECTIVE

To examine the CT and MRI characteristics of extraneural perineuriomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

With IRB approval, our institutional imaging database was retrospectively reviewed for cases of pathologically proven extraneural perineuriomas. CT and MRI features were recorded, correlative imaging analyzed, and the electronic medical record cross-referenced.

RESULTS

We identified ten patients [(seven males, three females, mean age 49.4 ± 18.3 years (range, 16-70 years)]. All cases were pathologically confirmed. Nine cases were conventional soft tissue extraneural perineuriomas, including one with "reticular" features and one with histologic features of malignancy; the tenth case contained admixed Schwann cells (hybrid perineurioma/schwannoma). Six out of ten patients underwent CT and ten of ten MRI evaluation. Nine out of ten MRIs were performed with IV contrast. Five lesions were subcutaneous, four intermuscular, and one intramuscular. Mean lesion diameter was 4.3 ± 2.7 cm (range, 0.9-10.2 cm). Nine out of ten lesions were well circumscribed; one had irregular margins. On CT, five of six were hypodense and one isodense compared to skeletal muscle. Most lesions were T1 isointense (5/10) or hypointense (4/10) and T2 hyperintense (7/10) relative to skeletal muscle, and demonstrated solid enhancement (6/9). There was no evidence of muscular denervation on any MRI exam, and a nerve of origin was identified in two out of ten cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Extraneural perineuriomas have a distinctly different imaging appearance from intraneural perineuriomas, manifesting as rounded or ovoid soft tissue masses, without evidence of muscular denervation, and usually without an apparent nerve of origin. Because these features mimic other benign and malignant soft tissue lesions, including sarcomas, biopsy or excision is needed for definitive diagnosis.