Subdiaphragmatic and intrathoracic paraspinal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: A clinicopathologic study of 25 patients and 26 tumors Journal Article


Authors: Kourea, H. P.; Bilsky, M. H.; Leung, D. H. Y.; Lewis, J. J.; Woodruff, J. M.
Article Title: Subdiaphragmatic and intrathoracic paraspinal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: A clinicopathologic study of 25 patients and 26 tumors
Abstract: BACKGROUND. To determine the effects of anatomic site on the presentation and diagnosis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) and on the treatment and outcomes of the patients, the authors initiated a study of these tumors at different sites. An earlier report described MPNSTs of the buttock and lower extremity, and the current series analyzes those presenting at intrathoracic (IT) and subdiaphragmatic (SD) paraspinal sites. METHODS. The authors reviewed data on patients with paraspinal MPNSTs who were seen at Memorial Hospital during the period 1960- 1995 and for whom histologic slides were available. Various clinicopathologic parameters and their effects on patient outcomes were examined. RESULTS. Twenty-five patients with 26 tumors were evaluated. Seven tumors were IT and 19 were SD; 60% of the patients had neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Most patients presented with pain, and a diagnostic delay (of 3 months to 2 years) was often noted. Mean tumor sizes for SD and IT tumors were 14.3 cm and 6.6 cm, respectively. Most MPNSTs were composed of spindle cells in fascicles. Twenty-seven percent exhibited divergent differentiation. Twenty-four tumors were high grade, and a low grade component was identified in 8 tumors. Surgical resection was attempted for 23 tumors (88%), but complete resection was achieved in only 6 cases (23%). Eighty percent of the patients died of their tumors, 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 35% and 16%, and median survival was 8.5 months. Significant prognostic factors were tumor size <5 cm, the presence of a low grade component, and complete tumor resection. CONCLUSIONS. Paraspinal MPNSTs have more aggressive behavior than peripherally located tumors, mainly because of the difficulty encountered in resecting them completely. Prognoses of patients with MPNST at this site appear to be affected by resection status, tumor size, and tumor grade.
Keywords: adult; child; clinical article; cancer surgery; clinical feature; histopathology; treatment; cancer grading; neurofibromatosis; tumor localization; tumor volume; pathology; surgery; malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; nerve sheath tumor; peripheral nervous system; anatomical variation; malignant schwannoma; prognosis; human; male; female; priority journal; article; malignant neurilemoma; paraspinal tumor
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 82
Issue: 11
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 1998-06-01
Start Page: 2191
End Page: 2203
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19980601)82:11<2191::aid-cncr14>3.0.co;2-p
PUBMED: 9610699
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Jonathan J Lewis
    109 Lewis
  2. Denis Heng Yan Leung
    114 Leung
  3. Mark H Bilsky
    319 Bilsky
  4. James M Woodruff
    162 Woodruff