title: Malignant triton tumor of the cervical spine: report of one case and review of the literature.
abstract: Malignant triton tumor (MTT) is a highly aggressive malignant neoplasm, classified as a variant of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. MTT is rarely reported in children, and its true prevalence may be underestimated. We herein report such a case in an 8-year-old boy who presented with a mass over the trapezius muscle. He was previously diagnosed with neurofibromatosis in the same area. Four years later, a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural tumor recurrence at the level of C1-C7. An immunohistochemical test result was positive for S-100 protein and desmin, which confirmed the diagnosis. The patient outcome was fatal despite multimodal therapy. The possibility of this rare but devastating tumor must always be considered when patients present with new compressive spinal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: jaing001@cgmh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Tang-Her
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Jaing
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chwei-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chieh-Tsai
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Kan
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017253:Neurofibromatoses / Q000150:complications; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; malignant triton tumor; neurofibromatosis