title: Disseminated primitive neuroectodermal tumor: diagnosis using immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and molecular probes.
abstract: A patient with a disseminated small cell tumor presented with hyperuricemia, gingival hypertrophy, lymphadenopathy, and bone marrow replacement with tumor cells. Initial histologic examination and clinical presentation were consistent with presumed marker silent lymphoma/leukemia. Despite initial treatment with and response to lymphoma/leukemia therapy the patient relapsed in the testis, bone marrow, pancreas, and skin whereupon subsequent and retrospective immunocytochemical, ultrastructural, cytogenetic, and molecular analysis led to the diagnosis of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). Despite extensive investigation and autopsy no primary site of tumor could be found demonstrating that PNET should be considered in the differential diagnosis of disseminated small cell tumors without an apparent primary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7810.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pappo
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Saldivar
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Britton
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Parmley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015335:Molecular Probes; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D015335:Molecular Probes