[Malignant peripheral sheath nerve tumor: An exceptional mass of the anterior and middle mediastinum]

A giant posterior mediastinal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and benign neurofibroma in body surface: a case report

Background

Neurofibromatosis comprises neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and type 2 (NF2). Major tumor type of NF1 are neurofibroma recognized as benign peripheral nerve tumor, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), and glioma.

Case presentation

We report a woman with a special condition, whose tumors in body surfaces were benign neurofibroma and tumors in posterior mediastinum are MPNST. The chest-enhanced CT suggested a round soft tissue density in posteriormediastium. The diagnosis was established by pathology and immunohistochemistry. A single-stage thoracoscopic mediastinal mass resection was performed. The whole operation went smoothly and the CT scan of lungs did not show relapse of tumor three months later.

Conclusions

The appearance of neurofibroma should draw particular attention to the possibility of developing MPNST. More careful imaging examinations should be carried out, and pathological examination could diagnose it.

Successful Management of Intrathoracic Phrenic Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor by Multimodal Treatment

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare and can be associated with type 1 neurofibromatosis. They are rarely located at the mediastinum, most often at the posterior mediastinal compartment or the paravertebral gutters. MPNSTs of the anterior mediastinum arising from the phrenic nerve are exceptional. Their prognosis is poor due to the high potential of local tumor recurrence and metastasis. Complete surgical resection remains the only radical treatment. However, the outcomes after this treatment alone cannot be considered satisfactory. Preoperative chemotherapy could be an interesting therapeutic option for unresectable tumors. We report here the case of a 77-year-old woman with an MPNST located at the anterior mediastinum arising from the phrenic nerve. This tumor was successfully managed with multimodal therapy combining preoperative chemotherapy, complete surgery and adjuvant radiation.

[Neurogenic mediastinal tumors in adults]

INTRODUCTION

Neurogenic mediastinal tumors are tumors develop at the expense of peripheral nerve elements of the mediastinum, the sympathetic nervous tissue and paraganglia. The series that we propose has the distinction of a high frequency of malignant forms and a wealth of clinical symptomatology.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of 9 patients collected over a period of 6 years. The epidemiological aspect, clinical, radiological, surgical treatment and his results, histological diagnosis and prognosis were reviewed.

RESULTS

Five women and 4 men were identified. All patients were symptomatic at diagnosis. Tumor resection was complete in 8 cases. In 3 patients, there was a malignant tumor. Two of them had received chemo-radiotherapy. The others showed good clinical progress with a mean of 35 months.

CONCLUSION

Neurogenic tumors in adults are usually discovered incidentally. When the malignant forms predominate or in the presence of large tumor, the symptoms can be quite marked. In all cases the treatment based on a complete surgical resection remains the only guarantee of a good prognosis.