1/16. Thoracoscopic resection as the preferred approach to posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors.Traditionally, resection of posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors (PMNTs) has been through a posterolateral thoracotomy. Although thoracoscopic resection of these tumors has been advocated, treatment guidelines have not been reported previously. The authors report a thoracoscopic resection of a PMNT and conducted a retrospective review of similar cases in the literature. Successful thoracoscopic resection was compared with tumor size and type using a nonpaired t test (alpha: P < 0.05). A total of 29 patients (13 men, 16 women), aged 26 to 68 years, who underwent a thoracoscopic resection of a PMNT were identified. Preoperative imaging included chest radiography and computed tomography in all patients and magnetic resonance imaging in 15 of 29 patients (52%). All tumors were located in the posterior mediastinum without preoperative evidence of invasion or malignancy. Conversion to an open procedure was necessitated in 12 of 29 (41%) patients ("minithoracotomy" in 11, posterolateral thoracotomy in 1). Tumor size necessitating conversion to an open procedure (mean = 4.79 cm) and tumor size amenable to thoracoscopy alone (mean = 3.84 cm) were not significantly different (P < 0.09). pathology revealed 22 schwannomas (76%), 6 ganglioneuromas (21%), and 1 malignant schwannoma (3%) and was not associated with conversion to an open procedure (P < 0.99). Thoracoscopic resection of PMNTs can be performed successfully, regardless of tumor type or size; however, malignancy, local invasion, and tumors >5 cm may require an open procedure. Thoracoscopic resection can replace thoracotomy in the treatment of PMNTs.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/16. Atypical ganglion cell tumor of the sciatic nerve.CONTEXT: Although herniation of a lumbosacral intervertebral disk is a major cause of sciatic distribution pain, relentlessly progressive symptoms or signs should alert one to the possibility of a tumor involving the nerve. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, neurophysiological, and histological features of a pathologically unique tumor involving the sciatic nerve. SETTING: Tertiary referral university hospital. PATIENT: A 36-year-old woman was seen with a 6-year history of increasingly severe symptoms in the distribution of the left sciatic nerve. RESULTS: electromyography indicated a sciatic nerve lesion in the region of the greater sciatic notch. magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a tumor involving the left sciatic nerve in this area. light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry results confirmed the presence of an atypical ganglion cell tumor of the sciatic nerve that exhibited prognostically conflicting clinical and histological features. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of an atypical ganglion cell tumor affecting the sciatic nerve, and illustrates the value of detailed neurophysiological examination in localizing the site of peripheral nerve injury to facilitate focused neuroimaging when standard investigations are uninformative. Longer follow-up is required to determine the true biologic potential of this lesion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.36121040495019keywords = area, pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/16. Intraoperative monitoring of an unusual brachial plexus tumor.This case illustrates the importance of intraoperative monitoring of neuronal function to help separate tumor tissue from neural tissue in a 54-year-old patient with left shoulder pain resulting from a desmoid tumor. Preoperative nerve conduction and electromyographic studies showed a lesion in the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, which was found to be intimately involved with the tumor mass and was splayed into a very thin effaced sheet of neural tissue. Stimulation of the tumor/nerve tissue mass proximal to the lesion was impossible due to the invasion of the brachial plexus by the tumor. The technique that was adapted for this unusual presentation was to stimulate the tumor/nerve tissue mass itself and record compound muscle action potentials distally. With the technique described, a subtotal resection of an aggressive fibromatosis enmeshed in the proximal brachial plexus was possible, and excellent relief of pain symptoms and retention of functional capabilities of the involved extremity were achieved.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1169.1570465093keywords = plexus, pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/16. choroid plexus papilloma. Report of a case with cytologic differential diagnosis.The cytopathologic features of choroid plexus papilloma observed in the ventricular fluid of a 9-month-old boy are reported and compared with other pediatric central nervous system neoplasms. The cytologic features of choroid plexus papilloma are similar to those of normal choroid plexus and may be difficult to distinguish from those of a well-differentiated papillary ependymoma. However, the cell clusters are distinct from those associated with choroid plexus carcinoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1335.8356778326keywords = plexus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/16. Fine needle aspiration cytology of primitive neuroectodermal tumors. A report of these cases.Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a small round cell malignancy arising in soft tissue and bone, predominantly in older children and adolescents. We report the cytomorphologic features and findings of ancillary studies of eight fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies from three patients (7-year-old male, 12-year-old female, 9-year-old female). Two of the biopsies suggested the initial diagnosis of PNET of the chest wall, while the remaining six documented recurrent or metastatic disease. In one of these cases the primary diagnosis made by FNA biopsy enabled the pediatric oncologists to give specific therapy for the unresectable tumor and achieve remission. Local recurrences included the chest wall (two cases), pleura (one case) and pericardium (one case), while metastatic disease involved the supraclavicular lymph node and breast. All the cases consisted of small malignant cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and hyperchromatic nuclei without prominent nucleoli. Homer Wright rosettes were seen in only two of the aspirates, and neuropil and ganglion cells were not present. Ancillary studies, including electron microscopy (two cases), immunocytochemistry (four aspirates from two cases) and cytogenetics (11/22 translocation, one case) performed on the aspirated material were aids in making a specific diagnosis and excluded other small round cell tumors of childhood, such as malignant lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. The differential diagnosis between PNET and neuroblastoma can be difficult on the basis of an FNA biopsy alone, although light microscopic morphologic differences exist. Clinical features (e.g., age, primary site, metastatic patterns), catecholamine levels, electron microscopy and cytogenetics are necessary in establishing the correct diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/16. Gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor.The article describes a case of gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor, which is histogenetically related to the gastrointestinal autonomic plexus (hence the name plexosarcoma). This rare and only recently recognized tumor of the gastrointestinal tract appears to have significant prognostic implications. This tumor cannot be diagnosed unequivocally by light microscopic and immunocytochemical examinations but shows characteristic electron microscopic features. The present case occurred as a gastric primary tumor and exhibited a light and electron microscopic picture similar to the one described in previous reports: areas of spindle-shaped and epithelioid cells, cytoplasmic processes with dense-core granules, and cytoplasmic intermediate filaments. Ultrastructural characteristics diagnostic of other gastrointestinal tumors, such as those originating from smooth muscle, Schwann cell, or endocrine cell types, were absent. Immunocytochemically, the tumor was diffusely positive for vimentin and neuron-specific enolase and focally positive for neurofilament triplet protein (NFTP) 160. negative staining was observed for NFTP 200, S-100 protein, desmin, somatostatin, chromogranin, keratins (AE1/AE3), and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Although gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor has been reported to have a deceptively low-grade malignant appearance by light microscopy, it follows an aggressive clinical course. This tumor showed a much higher mitotic rate (one mitosis per high-power field) than the rates of tumors reported previously. Moreover, it occurred in a much younger patient (20 years of age) compared to previously reported cases (45 to 66 years of age), with the exception of one other case (16 years of age).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 167.19025593113keywords = plexus, area (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/16. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising in a "de novo" ganglioneuroma. A case report.A case of a "de novo" ganglioneuroma showing an internal area of malignant nerve sheath tumor is described. The tumor arose in an 18-year-old girl without a history of von Recklinghausen's disease. Immunohistochemically, the ganglioneuromatous component was positive with anti-synaptophysin, anti-S100 protein and anti-vimentin antisera, whereas the malignant part was immunoreactive only with anti-S100 protein and anti-vimentin antisera. The patient is free of disease 4 years after surgery. The clinicopathologic features of this rare case are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.21079620205583keywords = area (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/16. Painful ophthalmoplegia caused by neurotropic malignant melanoma.Progressive cranial nerve palsies and painful ophthalmoplegia developed in a 76-year-old man with lentigo maligna of the forehead 18 months after the excision of a spindle cell tumour of the forehead that proved on immunohistochemical study to be a malignant melanoma. The signs and symptoms were caused by neurotropic spread of the malignant melanoma into the cavernous sinus and subsequent neurosarcomatous transformation of the orbital metastasis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.15041420289436keywords = pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/16. Ophthalmic manifestations of perineural spread of facial skin malignancy.Facial skin malignancy, when complicated by perineural spread (PNS), can lead to devastating orbital, intracranial and paranasal sinus involvement, the management of which requires a multidisciplinary approach and which itself may be devastating. Adequate surgical excision with frozen section control, and specific inspection of histological specimens for perineural invasion, are essential to avoid this problem. This report presents four patients who manifested such involvement, and emphasises the importance of recognition of such ominous symptoms as facial pain, paraesthesiae and weakness. Thorough neuro-ophthalmic examination is mandatory to detect signs of nerve involvement which may indicate perineural spread both at the initial assessment of primary tumour and at suspected recurrence. In this series, the most common sensory and motor nerves affected were, respectively, single, small branches of the ophthalmic and facial nerves.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.15041420289436keywords = pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/16. Extracranial primitive neuroectodermal tumor.An 11-year-old white girl was admitted to The Children's Hospital of philadelphia in July 1983 for evaluation of metastatic tumor. She had been well until July 1982, when a mass developed over the right scapula. Treatment with warm compresses and antibiotics resulted in no improvement, and incision and drainage were unproductive. A biopsy at another hospital was interpreted as showing a primitive neuroectodermal tumor. There was no evidence of metastatic disease. She then underwent excision of the tumor with the underlying scapula. No further treatment was administered. She remained well until February 1983, when she began to complain of occasional lower back and thigh pains. Her symptoms worsened over the succeeding 3 months, despite treatment with analgesics and physical therapy. By May 1983, she was no longer able to attend school because of weakness and pain, and had sustained a 10% weight loss during the previous 2 months. She was admitted to her original hospital, where bone scan and bone marrow biopsy showed disseminated tumor; she then came to The Children's Hospital of philadelphia. On examination, she appeared acutely and chronically ill. It was very uncomfortable for her to move, and she walked with a slow, stooped, shuffling gait. She complained of tenderness in the lower back and both sides. There were no other abnormalities on examination. The hemoglobin level was 9.7 gm/dl, following transfusion at the other hospital; white blood cell count was 6,900/mm3 with a normal differential, and the platelet count was 480,000/mm3. A 24-hr urine test for VMA excretion was normal. She underwent bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, and the radiographs and pathology slides from the other hospital were reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.30082840578872keywords = pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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