title: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the head and neck: a clinicopathological study.
abstract: Twenty-seven cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors involving the head and neck region over a period of 7 years were reviewed. They were graded from 1-3 based on necrosis, mitosis, cellularity, and pleomorphism. Mean age of occurrence was 42 years, with a range of 12-70 years. Male preponderance was noted (M:F = 3.5:1). The most common site of involvement was the neck (44.6%). The main presenting symptom was an enlarging mass. The nerve of origin could be identified in 33% of patients. Treatment consisted of wide excision. The 5-year observed survival was 33%. Fifty-two percent of patients developed local recurrence of disease. Fifteen percent of patients died due to advanced local disease within 18 months of treatment. Distant metastasis was seen in 18.5% of patients. Lymph node metastasis was not seen. At the end of 5 years 15% of patients remained disease free. Large tumor size (> 5 cm) adversely affected the prognosis (P = < 0.1). No significant correlation was noted between the grade of tumor and survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay, India.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Vege
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Chinoy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Parikh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis