Cytologic features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

To study the cytomorphologic features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), including the epithelioid cell variant, and to establish differential diagnostic features with benign neurogenic tumors and other sarcomas.

Cytologic smears from primary, recurrent and metastatic tumors in 10 patients with MPNST were reviewed. Three patients had neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), and in two others the tumor arose from a preexisting neurofibroma. Immunocytochemical evaluation of S-100 protein was performed in four cases. A complete pathologic study was available in all cases. To assess the validity of morphologic recognition, a blinded study, including eight cases of spindle MPNST among smears from histologically proven schwannomas, synovial sarcomas, leiomyosarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytomas and liposarcomas, was performed.

Neurogenic differentiation was recognizable in four cases (differentiated), while the other four (anaplastic) were indistinguishable from other pleomorphic sarcomas. The presence of elongated, slender, often wavy nuclei and less commonly a delicate, fibrillary metachromatic stroma were features suggestive of nerve sheath differentiation. Other cytologic, as well as clinical, features permitted their identification as malignant. Two cases of epithelioid MPNST disclosed large, polygonal to plasmocytoid tumor cells without specific cytologic features. S-100 immunoexpression was positive in two of the four cytologic samples tested.

Although no morphologic findings are specific to MPNST, the above-mentioned cytologic features may suggest, in differentiated cases, its neurogenic differentiation. On the basis of morphologic features alone, the diagnosis of anaplastic and epithelioid MPNST is not possible, and immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies are necessary. A specific cytodiagnosis is possible in recurrences, metastases and cases of NF1 or a preexisting neurofibroma.