Adult Primary Peripheral PNET/Ewing's Sarcoma of the Cervical and Thoracic Spine

Abstract

This case report describes a patient with a rare occurrence of primary spinal intramedullary Ewing's sarcoma (ES) in the cervical and thoracic spine. The older age of disease occurrence, uncommon location in the cervical and thoracic spine, and EWSR1 gene fusion as the basis of diagnosis are unique features of this case. There is no clear protocol for treatment of primary extraskeletal ES of the spine, with controversy between evidence for pursuing surgery versus a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. Our patient was treated with temozolomide chemotherapy for recurrent metastatic disease of primary ES of the spine.

Keywords: CNS; Ewing's Sarcoma; chemotherapy; gene fusion; immunohistochemistry; primitive neuroectodermal tumor; spinal.