A true malignant schwannoma of the eighth cranial nerve: case report.
OBJECTIVE
The clinical presentation, pathology, treatment, and outcome of a 43-year-old woman with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from a benign schwannoma of the eighth cranial nerve are presented.


METHODS
Initially, the tumor was debulked. After finding malignant areas within the benign tumor, it was considered to be a malignant transformation of a previously benign tumor.


METHODS
Aggressive total resection was obtained during a second-stage procedure. Postoperatively, the tumor bed was radiated for palliation.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the patient died rapidly as a result of disseminated metastatic disease.
Gonzalez
L Fernando
LF
Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA.
Lekovic
Gregory P
GP
Eschbacher
Jennifer
J
Coons
Stephen
S
Spetzler
Robert F
RF
D000328:Adult; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000473:pathology*