Malignant peripheral nerve-sheath tumor arising in a previously irradiatedneuroblastoma: report of 2 cases and a review of the literature

Background. Only ten cases of the rare occurrence of a malignant peripheral nerve-sheath tumor (MPNST) arising in a ganglioneuroma either de novo or a t a site of previous irradiation have been reported. Patients and methods. We present two children who at the age of 19 months a nd 6 months were diagnosed with a cervicothoracic ganglioneuroblastoma and a retroperitoneal neuroblastoma, respectively. They both received radiation therapy as part of the treatment of their disease. Results. Following a 12-year interval, MPNST arose inside a benign ganglion euroma in both patients. We illustrate the imaging findings in these two ca ses and review the cases reported in the literature to increase awareness o f this association among radiologists.