Peripheral nerve tumor

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Peripheral nerve tumor
MPNST.PNG
MRI (coronal plane) showing the site of MPNST in the left tibia.
Specialty Neurosurgery

Peripheral nerve tumors, also called tumors of peripheral nerves or tumors of the peripheral nervous system, are a diverse category with a range of morphological characteristics and biological potential. [1] They are categorized as either benign or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. [2] [3]

Contents

Description

They vary from benign (soft tissue perineurioma and schwannoma) that can be completely removed to benign (plexiform neurofibroma) that may be locally aggressive to extremely malignant (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors [MPNST]). [1] New and more precisely defined entities include malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumor (formerly known as melanotic schwannoma) and hybrid nerve sheath tumors. [4] [5] The majority of peripheral nerve tumors are benign tumors of the nerve sheath (usually schwannomas); on rare occasions, they are metastatic tumors or originate from the nerve cells. [6] [7]

Most peripheral nerve tumors occur for unknown reasons. Some, including schwannomatosis and neurofibromatosis (types 1 and 2), are associated with recognized hereditary disorders. Others may be caused by gene mutations. In the case of schwannomatosis and neurofibromatosis, tumors can grow on or close to nerves anywhere in the body. Frequently, there are several tumors. [8]

The typical symptoms involve a combination of pain, loss of nerve function, and/or a palpable (or radiographically apparent) mass affecting a peripheral nerve. The etiology and importance of the last two symptoms should be apparent. For example, the presence of a severe nerve palsy is highly suggestive of malignancy as it is most likely the result of the tumor invading and destroying nerves. [7]

Methods used to identify tumors of the peripheral nervous system include a family history of any predisposition syndrome, including neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, a targeted and comprehensive physical examination, and radiological investigations, the primary one being magnetic resonance imaging. [9] [10] Other radiological investigations may include plain radiographs, ultrasound examination, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. [11] Definitive diagnosis is made by tumor biopsy. [12] Surgery is the most common method of treating peripheral nerve sheath tumors. [11] In malignant tumors, complete resection is the only known curative treatment (with a sufficiently wide margin or even amputation to improve prognosis). [12] For larger lesions or those with a more aggressive histology, adjuvant radiation is recommended. Novel or combination therapies that are the focus of ongoing clinical trials are highly desirable. [13] [14]

Epidemiological and clinical features

Formally, the majority of these tumors lack a CNS WHO grade; instead, neoplasms should be graded within each category of tumor. [5]

Peripheral nerve tumors [5] [2]
Tumor typeMalignancyEstimated incidenceLocation
SchwannomaBenign1.09 per 100,000/year
  • Skin and subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck, or along the flexor surfaces of the extremities
  • Spinal intradural extramedullary site with growth into foraminal space
  • Eight cranial nerve (bilateral involvement in NF2)
Neurofibroma

(Localized, diffuse, plexiform subtype)

Benign5.3% of all benign soft tissue tumors
  • Skin, with predominant dermal involvement, less frequently medium-sized nerves, a nerve plexus, a major nerve trunk, or spinal nerve roots
  • Bilateral and/or multiple spinal root involvement in NF1
  • Spinal cord compression
  • Cranial nerve involvement is ultrarare
Perineurioma

(Intraneural and soft tissue subtypes)

Benign1% of nerve sheath and soft tissue neoplasms, respectively (>50 cases of intraneural perineuriomas and >300 cases of soft tissue perineuriomas have been described)
  • Common presentation: focal, unilateral lesion affecting major peripheral nerves (sciatic, median, radial, brachial plexus) and their branches.
  • Uncommon locations: cranial nerves, lateral ventricle, oral cavity, skin, and mandible. Bilateral or unilateral multifocal lesions are rare
Hybrid nerve sheath tumorBenignVery rare
  • The most common site is the fingers
  • Rare cases of cranial nerves involvement
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST)

(epithelioid and perineural subtypes)

Malignant2–10% of soft tissue sarcomas. Epithelioid MPNST is particularly rare (~5% of all MPNST)
  • Extremities, trunk, head, and neck area
Malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumour (MMNST)MalignantVery rare
  • Common sites are spinal or autonomic nerves near the midline
  • Uncommon sites: gastrointestinal tract, bone, soft tissues, heart, bronchus, liver, and skin
Neuroendocrine tumour (previously paraganglioma)MalignantVery rare
  • Cauda equina region

References

  1. 1 2 Belakhoua, Sarra M.; Rodriguez, Fausto J. (2021-02-16). "Diagnostic Pathology of Tumors of Peripheral Nerve". Neurosurgery. 88 (3): 443–456. doi:10.1093/neuros/nyab021. ISSN   1524-4040. PMC   7884141 . PMID   33588442.
  2. 1 2 Parizel, P. M.; Simoens, W. A.; Matos, C.; Verstraete, K. L. (1997), De Schepper, Arthur M.; Parizel, Paul M.; Ramon, Frank; De Beuckeleer, Luc (eds.), "Tumors of Peripheral Nerves" , Imaging of Soft Tissue Tumors, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 271–298, doi:10.1007/978-3-662-07859-4_17, ISBN   978-3-662-07859-4 , retrieved 2024-09-07
  3. ↑ Ariel, I. M. (1983). "Tumors of the peripheral nervous system". CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 33 (5): 282–299. doi: 10.3322/canjclin.33.5.282 . ISSN   0007-9235. PMID   6413007.
  4. ↑ Giannini, Caterina; Righi, Alberto (2024). "Peripheral nerve tumors". Focal Neuropathies. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 201. pp. 251–271. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-90108-6.00016-8. ISBN   978-0-323-90108-6. ISSN   0072-9752. PMID   38697744.
  5. 1 2 3 Pellerino, Alessia; Verdijk, Robert M.; Nichelli, Lucia; Andratschke, Nicolaus H.; Idbaih, Ahmed; Goldbrunner, Roland (2023-03-23). "Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral and Cranial Nerve Tumors with Expert Recommendations: An EUropean Network for RAre CANcers (EURACAN) Initiative". Cancers. 15 (7): 1930. doi: 10.3390/cancers15071930 . ISSN   2072-6694. PMC   10093509 . PMID   37046591.
  6. ↑ Lapierre, F.; Rigoard, P.; Wager, M. (2009). "[Peripheral nerve tumors]". Neuro-Chirurgie. 55 (4–5): 413–420. doi:10.1016/j.neuchi.2009.09.004. ISSN   0028-3770. PMID   19796780.
  7. 1 2 Sughrue, Michael E; Levine, Jon; Barbaro, Nicholas M (2008-02-29). "Pain as a symptom of peripheral nerve sheath tumors: clinical significance and future therapeutic directions". Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury. 3: e136 –e140. doi: 10.1186/1749-7221-3-6 . ISSN   1749-7221. PMC   2291052 . PMID   18312658.
  8. ↑ "Peripheral nerve tumors - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  9. ↑ July, Julius; Guha, Abhijit (2012-01-01), Grisold, Wolfgang; Soffietti, Riccardo (eds.), "Chapter 44 - Peripheral nerve tumors" , Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Neuro-Oncology Part II, 105, Elsevier: 665–674, doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53502-3.00016-1, ISBN   978-0-444-53502-3, PMID   22230526 , retrieved 2024-09-07
  10. ↑ Bhattacharyya, Asis Kumar; Perrin, Richard; Guha, Abhijit (2004-08-01). "Peripheral Nerve Tumors: Management Strategies and Molecular Insights" . Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 69 (1): 335–349. doi:10.1023/B:NEON.0000041891.39474.cb. ISSN   1573-7373. PMID   15527099.
  11. 1 2 Sulli, Deviprasad; Shankar, Chandni; Raikar, Shruti G (2024). "Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge". Cureus. 16 (3): e56601. doi: 10.7759/cureus.56601 . ISSN   2168-8184. PMC   11031624 . PMID   38646284.
  12. 1 2 Zhou, Hai-Ying; Jiang, Shuai; Ma, Fei-Xia; Lu, Hui (2020). "Peripheral nerve tumors of the hand: Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment". World Journal of Clinical Cases. 8 (21): 5086–5098. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i21.5086 . ISSN   2307-8960. PMC   7674743 . PMID   33269245.
  13. ↑ Bradford, Diana; Kim, AeRang (2015-03-17). "Current Treatment Options for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors" . Current Treatment Options in Oncology. 16 (3): 12. doi:10.1007/s11864-015-0328-6. ISSN   1534-6277. PMID   25777573.
  14. ↑ Knight, Samantha W. E.; Knight, Tristan E.; Santiago, Teresa; Murphy, Andrew J.; Abdelhafeez, Abdelhafeez H. (2022-01-01). "Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors—A Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Multidisciplinary Management". Children. 9 (1): 38. doi: 10.3390/children9010038 . ISSN   2227-9067. PMC   8774267 . PMID   35053663.
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