Fine-needle aspiration of epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (epithelioid malignant schwannoma)

Abstract

The epithelioid variant of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), also known as malignant epithelioid schwannoma, is a relatively rare and recently characterized clinicopathologic entity. The epithelioid variant of MPNST shares many clinical features with conventional MPNST but is characterized by different histologic and cytologic features. These include a distinctive nesting pattern and an abundance of cytoplasm not seen in histology of conventional nerve sheath tumors. Cytologically, the epitheliod variant shows a propensity to cellular discohesiveness and a plasmacytoid or epitheliod appearance that is in contradistinction to the spindled appearance of the usual MPNST. Herein, we report our experience with fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) of two epithelioid malignant schwannomas and discuss the FNA cytologic differential diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1997;17:200–204. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: A case report and review of the literature

“…While morphologically distinct variants including epithelioid, glandular, and rhabdomyoblastic MPNSTs are well documented in the surgical pathology literature, 3,4 only one case report has been published to date that describes the cytomorphology of epithelioid MPNST (eMPNST). 5 The present report adds to the extremely limited body of literature on the cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical features of this rare tumor.…”

“…A recent study of 63 surgical cases reports a low risk of reoccurrence and metastasis; however disease related death can occur 4 . FNA smears of eMPNST are usually excessively bloody and variably cellular 5 . On low power magnification, the most distinct feature is the presence of loose clusters of pleomorphic oval to round cells containing eccentric nuclei with abundant pink cytoplasm resembling cells of epithelial origin.…”

Cancer of unknown primary: Ancillary testing of cytologic and small biopsy specimens in the era of targeted therapy

“…Mesenchymal neoplasms and proliferations with epithelioid morphology can be mistaken for carcinomas and initially elude a proper workup . Neoplastic cells in such lesions may appear in fragments and/or as dispersed cells.…”

“…[23][24][25][26][27][28] Mesenchymal neoplasms and proliferations with epithelioid morphology can be mistaken for carcinomas and initially elude a proper workup. [29][30][31] Neoplastic cells in such lesions may appear in fragments and/or as dispersed cells. If multiple keratin markers are negative and therefore carcinoma excluded, an additional panel of markers can help to identify mesenchymal lesions with epithelioid morphology (Table 3).…”

Diagnosis of a brachial plexus tumour using magnetic resonance imaging assisted by fine-needle aspiration biopsy in a dog: a case report

“…Various ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance techniques for imaging peripheral nerve sheath tumours have been described in human and veterinary medicine (Cerofolini et al 1991;McCarthy et al 1993;Brehm et al 1995;Hudson et al 1996). In human medicine, documented attempts have been made to analyse these tumours with the use of fine-needle aspiration biopsies (Stastny and Frable, 1993;Dodd et al 1997).…”