title: PNET/ESFT of the cranial vault: a case report.
abstract: A case of peripheral PNET (PNET/ESFT) of the cranial vault is described. A 56-year-old woman showed a mass with a large cyst in the right temporal region, adherent to the meninges, which caused a left hemiparesis with headache and confusion. The mass was totally removed. The histological examination showed a dense proliferation of small elements, organized in lobules separated by reticulin septa. Many circumscribed necroses, vessels with a thick handcuff of reticulin, a diffuse mucous degeneration and abundant mitoses were present. The cells were positive for Vimentin and CD99. RT-PCR revealed the EWS/FLI1 fusion transcript of the t(11,22) (q24;q12) translocation. The patient presented is the oldest one of the rare cases of dura-based meningioma-mimicking pPNETs till now described. In line with the possible origin from peripheral nerves or roots of cauda equina of non-intracranial tumors, those of the vault may derive from peripheral sensory nerves of the dura. The differential diagnosis must be made with cPNETs which show a worse prognosis and both can benefit from a different chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Neuro-bio-oncology Center, Policlinico di Monza Foundation, University of Turin (Vercelli), U.O. Neurochirurgia, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mellai
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caldera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernucci
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schiffer
mesh_terms: D000071443:12E7 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000071443:12E7 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; C061828:CD99 protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D014746:Vimentin