Congenital peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor: A case treated successfully with multimodality treatment

Neonatal tumors comprise less than two percent of childhood malignancies. Most are solid tumors, most common histologies being teratoma and neuroblastoma. We encountered a child who was detected to have a right arm mass on antenatal sonogram, which was diagnosed to be a primitive neuroectodermal tumor involving the triceps on fine needle aspiration cytology performed in the post-natal period. The child was successfully treated with multimodality treatment consisting of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We also discuss briefly the problems associated with therapy in neonatal period. A review of all cases reported to have congenital Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors is presented. Novel therapies are needed to improve efficacy and decrease the devastating side effects of treatment in this age group.     

A case report of primary cardiac capillary hemangioma

Background: Hemangioma of the heart, presenting as a primary cardiac tumor is extremely rare. Methods: We present a 20-year-old male with a cardiac tumor which was incidentally discovered during routine clinical examination. Results: Echocardiography showed a large intramyocardial mass attached to the left ventricle, close to the apex. A tumor was shown near the apex of the left ventricle by Cardiac CT. We performed a total resection surgery of the tumor one week after admission and the patient recovered well and discharged from hospital 7 d after surgery. Conclusion: The pathological diagnosis was primary cardiac capillary hemangioma. No tumor recurrence was shown by echocardiography after 20 months follow-up visits.     

Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors: a Canadian pediatric brain tumor consortium report

Introduction Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (SPNET) are rare tumors accounting for only 2.5% of childhood brain tumors. The purpose of this study was to describe the range of treatment regimens used to treat pediatric SPNET in Canada and to identify prognostic factors for overall survival in this population. Methods This study was a retrospective clinical analysis of SPNET patients treated over the last 10 years in Canada. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to all institutions in Canada who treat pediatric patients. Data were collected for patients <19 years of age who were diagnosed and treated for SPNET between 1995 and 2005. Results Data were obtained for 48 eligible patients. The stages of patients for whom complete data were provided were 80, 3, and 16% for metastatic stage M0, M1, and M2/3, respectively. The best responses to therapy included complete response in 44%, partial response in 8%, still on therapy in 2%, progressive disease in 31%, toxic death in 2%, and no therapy given in 12%. The 4-year survival was 37.7 ± 7.6%. The factors associated with an increase in survival were the use of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and age >2 years. Overall survival was not affected by metastatic disease at diagnosis, tumor site, or degree of initial resection. Conclusions Survival is poor in SPNET patients but highest in those who received chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Further studies are needed to improve the survival of these patients.     

Long-term relapse-free survival with supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor in an adult: a case report

Summary Objective In adults, supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (sPNET) is a very rare undifferentiated embryoblastic neoplasm. Prognosis is worse in comparison to infratentorial medulloblastoma. Older age appears to be prognostically favorable. At present, 5-year survival rates remain below 50% in all age groups. Survival longer than 15 years in an adult has only been reported once so far. Case report In 1987, a 33-year-old-male patient presented with seizures following a six-month’s history of dizziness. CT- and MRI-scans revealed a right occipital tumor with moderate contrast enhancement. The tumor was completely removed. The original histological diagnosis was that of an undifferentiated sarcoma, malignant hemangioendothelioma, grade III. The patient was treated by CyVADIC chemotherapy and conventional radiation therapy (60 Gy). Admission for another reason in 2003 led to a re-evaluation of the original diagnosis. Microscopy revealed a malignant, highly cellular, poorly differentiated tumor with a desmoplastic component. Up to 20% of tumor nuclei were labeled for Ki-67. Almost all cells were stained for neuron specific enolase and NGF-Rp75, with neuronal and glial markers being present to a variable extent. According to these findings, the diagnosis was changed to a sPNET (WHO IV°). Other tumor entities were excluded by immunohistochemistry. Conclusions Although the prognosis of sPNET is reported to be poor, a small fraction with a rather benign biological and clinical behavior exists. Parameters determining long-term-survival in sPNET are not yet known. Whenever possible, complete surgical resection should be attempted followed by postoperative radiotherapy. The value of chemotherapy is an issue of continuous investigation. Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor is a very rare and highly malignant neoplasm in adults, carrying a poor prognosis. Complete surgical resection followed by radiotherapy proved to be essential for the outcome. We report the case of long-term survival at more than 17 years in an adult patient treated by surgery, postoperative radiation and chemotherapy.     

血尿表现的前列腺原始神经外胚层瘤1例并文献复习

目的:探讨前列腺原始神经外胚层瘤临床表现、病理学特点、诊断标准及治疗与预后,以提高对本病的诊疗水平。方法:回顾性分析我院前列腺原始神经外胚层瘤1例及总结文献检索所得前列腺PNET病例12例的临床表现、病理结果及治疗与预后。结果:病例中最短生存期为术后一个月死于肺转移。最长生存期为随访至12个月。我院病例术后4月复查盆腔肿瘤复发。结论:外周PNET十分罕见,前列腺PNET更罕见。对于排尿困难和血尿的青年患者如诊断不明确应考虑本病可能。超声、CT、MRI可发现该疾病但无特异性,病理可诊断。早期诊断、积极治疗对预后影响大,对于晚期患者化疗效果明显。     

CT、MRI检查在外周原始神经外胚层肿瘤诊治中的作用

目的：通过对影像学和病理学的分析，旨在提高对外周神经外胚层肿瘤(pPNET)的认识。方法：回顾性分析有完整影像和病理资料的6例pPNET。结果：软组织pPNET的CT表现为大的、边界不清的软组织肿块，密度不均匀伴坏死囊变，不伴钙化，增强后呈不均匀强化。骨pPNET主要表现为较大的溶骨性骨质破坏伴软组织肿块，无新生骨、瘤骨，增强后不均匀强化。MRI在SE序列T1W表现为等肌肉信号，T2W表现为不均匀高信号，增强后强化不均匀，可见类似包膜和分隔样改变。结论：pPNET的影像学表现没有明显特征性。CT和MRI的作用主要用于描述肿瘤内部结构、侵犯范围以及与周围组织、血管神经的关系，同时可以提供肿瘤远处转移的信息，对临床手术可切除性与评价疗效有着非常重要的意义。     

椎管内原始神经外胚层肿瘤1例

原始神经外胚层肿瘤(primitive neuroectodermal tumor,PNET)临床少见,临床及影像学表现无特异性,极易误诊误治,为提高对本病的认识,我科近来收治1例,报道如下并结合文献复习. 1临床资料 患者,女,20岁.于1.5个月前无明显诱因出现双下肢酸软感,以右侧为甚,双下肢活动正常.当时未予注意,未行检查.近1个月来上述症状加重,出现右脚跛行,自觉右下肢无力伴双下肢麻木感,并出现腰背部疼痛,疼痛呈持续性,有针刺感,无放射他处,活动后加重.曾在我院门诊行腰部X线片检查未发现异常.     

Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the ureter:A case report and literature review

Ewing sarcoma/primary neuroectodermal tumors are rare,invasive,and small round blue cell tumors.There are few reports of its occurrence in the urinary system.Here,we present the first middle-aged female patient whose Ewing sarcoma primary site was in the ureter.The main clinical manifestation was intermittent hematuria.She was in good health after complete surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy.To date,there has been no recurrence or metastasis.Accurate early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help prolong survival.18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is expected to be an effective means of evaluating treatment effects and detecting metastasis and recurrence.In this article,besides introducing a case of Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the ureter,we review the literature to discuss the current status of diagnosis and treatment.     

外周性原始神经外胚层肿瘤的诊断及治疗

目的：探讨外周性原始神经外胚层肿瘤（peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors,pPNETs）的诊断及治疗。方法：回顾性分析我院收治的5例经病理证实的 pPNETs 患者的诊治过程,并复习文献。结果：本组病例均为软组织,1例位于颈部,1例位于肩部,1例位于腋窝,2例位于胸壁。CT 平扫显示肿物多呈不均匀的等、低密度,所有肿瘤增强后均可见不均匀强化。3例患者行 MRI,显示 T1WI 呈与肌肉类似的混杂信号, T2WI 表现为不均匀的高信号。2例患者行 B 超检查,显示肿物局部低密度影,内可见血流信号,未压迫周围血管。镜下可见肿瘤细胞形成典型的 Homer －Wright 菊形团。免疫组化显示肿瘤均表达 CD99和 VIM,NSE和 Syn 多数阳性,CK 阴性,并且不表达 LCA,部分低表达 S100。结论：pPNETs 是一种少见的小圆细胞恶性肿瘤。CT 及 MRI 检查可评估肿瘤可切除性。B 超可了解肿物的血供及与周围血管的位置关系。pPNETs 的确诊依靠病理及免疫组化,尤其是 Homer －Wright 菊形团及神经内分泌标记物对肿瘤的确诊有重要意义。手术是直接有效的治疗手段,术前新辅助化疗可以减少 pPNETs 局部淋巴结转移。     

Cytogenetic and histopathologic studies of congenital supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors: A case report

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) represent about 25% of primary central nervous system tumors in childhood, but congenital PNETs are rare. Cytogenetic studies and studies on molecular pathology have identified several genetic alterations in medulloblastoma, but molecular investigations on supratentorial PNETs are infrequent. We present a male newborn with a large congenital PNET of the right cerebral hemisphere and the molecular analysis of the tumor. Tumor tissue was investigated by routine histology and immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization was carried out on native tumor tissue to investigate deletions on chromosome 17p and to analyze c-Myc or N-Myc amplifications. Histologic examination revealed a primitive neuroectodermal tumor with massive extension covering almost the entire right hemisphere. Genetic analysis of the native tumor tissue of our patient excluded a deletion of chromosome 17p. An amplification of the c-Myc or N-Myc oncogene was absent using fluorescence in-situ hybridization. Despite unremarkable genetic analysis in our case prognosis was poor, suggesting that there are additional, yet unknown constitutional genetic aberrations in the pathogenesis of congenital supratentorial PNET.     

Melanotic primitive neuroectodermal (neuroepithelial) tumor of medulla

A 69-year-old man had a melanotic primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the medulla displaying various neuroepithelial elements including undifferentiated neuroepithelial cells forming Homer Wright's rosettes as well as neoplastic neuroglia resembling those seen in medulloblastoma. The neuroglial tumor cells were verified by demonstrating glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cells. These findings support the concept that the primitive neuroectodermal tumor and medulloblastoma are similar neoplasms. They have been described by such diverse names as melanotic medulloblastomas and progonomas. Review of 18 reported cases of intracranial melanotic primitive neuroectodermal tumors, including the present one, reveals that they have common pathologic features, are most frequent in the cerebellum and fourth ventricle, often metastasize widely within the neuraxis or even systemically, occur more frequently in children than adults, and strike males more often than females.     

外周型原始神经外胚层肿瘤的临床分析

目的　探讨外周型原始神经外胚层肿瘤（ｐＰＮＥＴ）的临床表现、综合治疗效果及预后。方法　回顾性分析３４例ｐＰＮＥＴ患者的临床资料,其中肿瘤位于骨组织１４例,胸壁６例,腹膜后和四肢软组织各３例,鼻腔鼻窦、椎管内和盆腔各２例,肾脏和肺内各１例。１８例患者（包括１例新辅助化疗）行完全切除术,９例行部分切除术,其余７例仅行活检术以确诊,所有患者均接受了放化疗。结果　截止于２０１１年６月,全组病例中有１９例死亡,１、２年的总生存率分别为８２％和４１％。１８例完全切除组的中位生存期和中位无疾病进展时间分别为２４个月和１２个月,１６例非完全切除组分别为１４个月和４个月,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（Ｐ＜０.０５）。结论　ｐＰＮＥＴ是一种易转移、易复发、侵袭性强的高度恶性肿瘤,采用合理的综合治疗方案可延长生存期。     

原始神经外胚层肿瘤化疗相关因素的研究

目的评价原始神经外胚层肿瘤患者化疗的客观疗效,分析影响预后的因素。方法总结2000年3月～2008年9月我院收治的23例接受化疗的原始神经外胚层肿瘤患者的临床特点及化疗效果,用COX生存模型回顾性分析年龄、性别、是否手术、是否放疗、是否有远处转移、CD99的表达强度及是否接受新辅助化疗对其生存预后的影响。结果23例患者中女性11例,男性12例,中位年龄27岁,化疗后CR0例,PR11例,客观有效率55％,有效率与CD99表达强度不相关（P=0．843）,中位生存期为12个月。年龄（P=0．024）、远处转移（P=0．032）和放疗（P=0．044）对死亡风险有显著性影响,CD99表达强度在模型中P值为0．067。结论本组研究中原始神经外胚层肿瘤患者男女比例相当,多为年轻患者,化疗有效率较高,但生存期不长。接受放疗、年龄小、无远处转移、CD99表达强度低的患者死亡的风险小,CD99表达强度越高死亡的风险越大。     

肾脏原始神经外胚叶肿瘤一例报告并文献复习

原始神经外胚叶肿瘤(primitive neuroectodermal tumor,PNET)发源于神经嵴胚胎残留组织,具有多向分化潜能,且临床上较原始的恶性小圆细胞肿瘤少见,多分布于颅内、四肢、胸壁及中轴软组织[1-2]。Celli等[3]1975年首次报道PNET,大部分发病于儿童和青年人,>70%的患者发病于20岁之前,女性多见。     

Adult primary pulmonary primitive neuroectodermal tumor: Molecular features and translational opportunities

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) arising directly from the lung are very rare but particularly aggressive neoplasms. We report a case of a 31-y-old man with primary pulmonary neuroectodermal tumor. We review the clinical as well as pathological features. As typical for these tumors, the diagnosis was initially delayed in our patient and prognosis was poor despite aggressive surgical resection, postoperative chemotherapy and local irradiation. Recent biological insights have revealed unique chromosomal translocations crucial to the pathogenesis of these tumors, most notably the EWS-FLI-1 translocation. We provide an overview of the molecular features of the Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors (ESFT) including PNET and their potential implications for therapeutic targeting.     

外周性原始神经外胚层瘤的临床病理及免疫组织化学特征

目的:探讨外周性原始神经外胚层瘤(peripheral primitive neuroectodrmaltumour,pPNET)的临床病理及免疫组织化学特征。方法:对8例pPNET进行组织形态学观察和组化及免疫组化染色,并复习病史。结果:8例pPNET患者临床表现为进行性增大的局部肿块及其继发症状。影像学检查显示病变为密度增高的软组织影或溶骨性骨组织破坏。光镜下,瘤细胞为形态均一的小圆形或卵圆形,被纤维结缔组织所分隔成实性片状或巢状。部分病例可见典型Homer-Wright菊形团及/或菊形团排列趋势,1例伴明显神经细胞分化。免疫组化:8例pPNET中,CD99、Syn和NSE 3种标记阳性率较高,分别为7/8、6/8及7/8,Vim和CgA分别为5/8。Syn和NSE 2项阳性6例,CD99和Syn或NSE 2项阳性7例,3项均阳性6例。结论:pPNET是一种好发于青少年、形态原始和少见的高度恶性肿瘤,CD99、NSE及Syn的联合表达有助于pPNET的诊断和鉴别诊断。     

A supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor in an adult: a case report and review of the literature

Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (sPNET) occurring in adults are rare. Only 56 such cases have been previously reported. This report documents a 56-year-old male who presented with the chief complaint of right facial palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed left frontal and bilateral periventricular lesions. Surgery was performed for the frontal mass, which was histologically diagnosed to be sPNET. An immunohistochemistry assay for CD99, and a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay for t(11;22) translocation revealed this PNET to be a central PNET. This case was the first case to detect a central PNET using both immunohistochemistry and the FISH assay in adult sPNET. Though radiation therapy was performed, an MRI performed 2.5 months after the surgery revealed a regrowth of the tumor. The patient died 5 months after surgery. This case report is accompanied by a review of 57 cases of adult sPNET.     

Chemotherapy for medulloblastomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors

Summary In the past two decades, chemotherapy has proven to be an increasingly more effective modality in the treatment of medulloblastoma. Current evidence suggests that chemotherapy be included as part of standard treatment for all patients with high-risk medulloblastoma. Ongoing multi-centre trials are determining whether chemotherapy should be added to reduced dose radiotherapy as a substitute therapy for standard-dose radiotherapy. The major randomized and non-randomized chemotherapy trials for newly diagnosed patients with medulloblastoma or for patients at recurrence are presented. It is hoped that the addition of chemotherapy will eventually lead to improved survival rates as well as the reduction in the craniospinal radiotherapy dose for patients with medulloblastoma.     

Growth-inhibiting effect of intratumoral recombinant human tumor necrosis factor on an experimental model of primitive neuroectodermal tumor

The effect of intratumoral administration of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor on an experimental model of primitive neuroectodermal neoplasia was studied. A clear inhibition of tumor growth was achieved by immunotherapy that consisted in intralesion injections of 100 g of tumor necrosis factor daily, the first three days of each week, for a period of four weeks. At this time, tumor size was 2.21 ± 0.66 cm² (mean ±standard deviation) in the treated group, versus 7.62 ± 0.43 cm² in the control group. These data support previous studies on the influence of tumor necrosis factor on the development of ethyl-nitrosourea-induced tumors, and suggest the potential usefulness of this cytokine in human primitive neuroectodermal neoplasms.     

Differentiation of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor into a benign ganglioglioma

We describe a case of cerebellar neuroblastoma with histologic documentation of maturation into a ganglioglioma sixteen months later. Only chemotherapy was administered following the initial surgery and the child is well and disease-free three years following her final surgical procedure. The outcome of this patient supports previous hypotheses that the cerebellar neuroblastoma may be a less malignant tumor than its other primitive neuroectodermal posterior fossa counterparts. Furthermore, this case suggests a role for second-look surgery in the management of selected pediatric brain tumors.