Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 23 Nov 2022

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) are forms of peripheral nerve sheath tumours occurring either de novo or arising from pre-existing tumours (e.g. neurofibromas, schwannomas etc.). Approximately half of such tumours are seen in individuals with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), in such cases arising from pre-existing neurofibromas. 

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours are estimated to account for 3-5% of all soft-tissue sarcomas 9. They typically present in young and middle-aged adults (20-50 years) 8,9. There is no recognised gender predilection.

  • NF1

  • radiation therapy 8,9

Diagnostic criteria according to the WHO classification of soft tissue and bone tumours (5th edition) 9:

  • essential: sarcoma arising from a nerve or pre-existing nerve sheath tumour or in an NF1 patient

These tumours are often fairly rapidly enlarging and clinical presentation varies depending on location with mass effect and pain often present 11

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours can arise in a number of different situations 8-10:

Although by definition, these are malignant lesions, the mitotic rate and presence of necrosis vary significantly between tumours and also within individual tumours 1. These features are important in distinguishing MPNSTs from atypical neurofibromatous neoplasms of uncertain biologic potential (ANNUBP) 8.  

MPNSTs usually arise from a large nerve, and thus usually occur close to a plexus (e.g. brachial plexus/sacral plexus), with the sciatic nerve the most commonly affected peripheral nerve 9. Cranial nerves are rarely involved, and, on rare occasions they are, then the MPNST has usually arisen from an underlying schwannoma rather than a neurofibroma 8.

Most MPNSTs demonstrate inactivation of a number of genes: NF1, CDKN2A, and PRC2 8

The macroscopic appearance depends both on location and on whether or not the MPNST has arisen from an underlying pre-existing tumour. They are often large (>5 cm) at diagnosis, and may demonstrate local infiltration into surrounding tissues 8,9. It is common to identify areas of necrosis and haemorrhage 8

The microscopic appearance of MPNSTs is heterogeneous, varying in cellularity and growth pattern, generally including tightly packed spindle cells arranged in either a herringbone or interwoven fasciculated pattern 8

Immunohistochemistry reflects their neurogenic origin, with the following immunoreactivity 8

  • S100: positive in 50-70% - low in high-grade MPNSTs

  • p53 protein: positive in 75%

  • EGFR: positive in ~35%

A number of histological variants are recognised 8:

  • epithelioid MPNST

  • MPNST with divergent differentiation (a.k.a. malignant triton tumour)

  • MPNST with perineural differentiation (a.k.a. malignant perineurioma)

MPNST are designated as low-grade or high-grade according to the WHO classification of soft tissue and bone tumours on the basis of histological and genetic features (e.g. loss of H3K27me3 expression) 9.

It is worth noting that this grading is in contrast many benign neurogenic tumours (e.g. neurofibromasschwannomas and perineuiomas) that sometimes can give rise to MPNST are given a grade of 1 in the WHO classification of CNS tumours 8

Imaging criteria are generally considered unreliable in differentiating from a more benign neurofibroma or schwannoma 4 and there are no features to differentiate MPNST from other sarcomas 9. However, general rules favouring an MPNST include ref:

  • the larger the lesion, the more likely for it to be malignant

  • irregular borders (although most MPNSTs can have well-defined margins)

  • rapid growth in interval imaging

Fusiform mass continuous with a nerve that is heterogeneous and hypoechoic. An irregular hyperechoic pseudocapsule may be present 11.

  • T1

    • usually isointense to muscle 4

    • heterogeneous T1 signal (if present) may useful in differentiating from a neurofibroma 3

  • T2: can have low signal due to high collagen content 4

Gallium67 scintigraphy may show higher uptake than that of a neurofibroma 6,7.

MPNST are aggressive tumours that carry a poor prognosis, with 20-25% of patients developing metastases 8. Overall 5-year survival for sporadic tumours is 65% 8. Poor prognostic factors include 8,9

  • NF1

  • large size

  • location on the trunk

  • high-grade histological features

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