[Progressive paralysis caused by radiation-induced cervical malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor].
HISTORY AND DIAGNOSIS: A 59-year old engineer was admitted to the hospital because of pain in his right collar region and the onset of incomplete paresis of the right arm. Magnetic resonance tomography displayed an advanced tumour arising from the right paravertebral soft tissue. Histological examination revealed a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Thirteen years before admission, the patient had a right-sided tumor-tonsillectomy of a squamous cell carcinoma and local radiation of a cystic squamous cell carcinoma in the ipsilateral cervical soft tissue.


METHODS
In the following course, progressive neurological symptoms occurred including beginning paraplegia, right phrenic paralysis and a severe concomitant pain syndrome. Due to the location and advanced tumor state, surgical treatment was not performed and palliative chemotherapy remained ineffective. Three months later the patient died due to rapidly progressive neurological failure.


CONCLUSIONS
MPNST represents a rare entity which has been related to postoperative radiation. Unusual neurological symptoms in anatomical regions of former radiation should therefore include neurogenic secondary malignancies in the differential diagnosis for early surgical intervention.
Siveke
J T
JT
Medizinische Poliklinik, Klinikum Innenstadt der LMU München, Germany. jens.siveke@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Sen Gupta
R
R
Rieckhoff
K U
KU
Braumann
D
D
Goldmann
T
T
D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000209:etiology*; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery