PRIMARY INTRAOSSEOUS MALIGNANT PERIPHERAL-NERVE SHEATH TUMOR - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Primary intraosseous malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are exceptionally rare; the case reported here represents the first do cumented example occurring in the spinal column. The tumor arose in th e second cervical vertebra of a forty year old woman of Asian origin. She had no stigmata of von Recklinghausen's disease (VRD). Plain radio graphs and magnetic resonance imaging showed an osteolytic lesion with in the expanded body of the vertebra. Histology revealed spindle-shape d tumor cells with nuclei showing pleomorphism, pallisading and mitoti c activity. The cells stained positively for S-100 protein. The patien t underwent stabilisation of the cervical spine and tumor excision as a two-stage procedure. She died of pulmonary metastases one year later . We have reviewed the literature on the pathology of these tumors.