Cervical primitive neuroectodermal tumor

Background. Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are rare and potential ly aggressive malignancies. Case. A 24-year-old woman in her eighth week of pregnancy presented with a cervical mass. Tissue biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated carcinosarc oma. with neuroendocrine features. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed th e diagnosis of PNET. Treatment included alternating courses of cyclophospha mide, adriamycin, vincristine (CAV) and ifosfamide, etoposide (IE). A radic al hysterectomy with bilateral ovarian transposition and periaortic lymphad enectomy was performed with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Th e patient remains disease free 2 years from therapy. Conclusion. This is a rare case of cervical PNET occurring in a pregnant pa tient. A review of the literature indicates that cervical PNET is distingui shable from uterine PNET. This tumor affects younger women and may have a d ifferent histogenesis. Pregnancy should not delay diagnosis of this potenti ally aggressive tumor. (C) 2001 Academic Press.