title: Sacral intraspinal extradural primitive neuroectodermal tumor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are an exceedingly rare entity. A recent literature research revealed 28 cases reported. Only a few tumors in the literature were extradural in location, in the cervical and thoracic spine. The average survival after combination treatment including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical resection is 20 months for the cases reported in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report a case of a patient with sciatica and cauda equine-like symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urgent sacral decompression and resection of the tumor was performed with rapid pain relief for the patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histology revealed a sacral extradural small blue-cell tumor, consistent with ES/PNET family tumors. An oncological workup revealed that the tumor presentation was metastatic with pulmonary and abdominal nodules. The patient underwent combination chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide with mesna for 4 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient was without disease after excision, two courses of 4-month chemotherapy, and one course of 5-week radiation to the sacrum at 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Spinal Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Liliane Kaufmann Building, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1010, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musahl
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rihn
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Fumich
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018241:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012447:Sacrum / Q000473:pathology*; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery