Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising in a traumatic neuroma: a case report

Hum Pathol. 2013 Oct;44(10):2360-4. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2013.02.020. Epub 2013 May 21.

Abstract

A 67-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with a soft tissue mass at the site of a remote, non-neoplastic lumbar surgery. Excisional biopsy revealed a traumatic neuroma. Five years later she re-presented with a rapidly growing, tender nodule at the same site. An excisional biopsy was again performed and revealed a tumor composed of malignant epithelioid and spindle cells merging imperceptibly with residual traumatic neuroma. The malignant cells were positive for vimentin, S-100 and micropthalmia transcription factor. They were negative for cytokeratins, muscle markers, Melan-A, HMB45, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and myelin basic protein. Electron microscopy showed no melanosomes. The diagnosis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising within a long-standing traumatic neuroma was rendered and represents a hitherto unreported origin of this rare, aggressive soft tissue sarcoma.

Keywords: Case report; Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; Traumatic neuroma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Epithelioid Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelioid Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary
  • Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / etiology
  • Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neuroma / etiology
  • Neuroma / metabolism
  • Neuroma / pathology*
  • Rare Diseases
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / etiology
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Injuries / complications
  • Spinal Injuries / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome