Brain metastasis and intracranial leptomeningeal metastasis from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: illustrative cases

J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2023 Jul 17;6(3):CASE23148. doi: 10.3171/CASE23148. Print 2023 Jul 17.

Abstract

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft-tissue tumors. Intracranial metastasis from MPNSTs is quite rare.

Observations: The authors report on a 73-year-old male whose MPNST metastasized to the brain and a 32-year-old male with leptomeningeal metastasis from MPNST and review 41 cases of MPNST that developed intracranial metastasis, as reported in the literature.

Lessons: Brain metastasis and leptomeningeal metastasis of MPNSTs show different clinical courses and require pathology-specific treatment.

Keywords: brain metastasis; leptomeningeal metastasis; malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.