Malignant Triton tumor: a rare cause of sciatic pain and foot drop

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are very rare and are frequently localized in the buttocks, thigh, arm, or paraspinal region; one variant is the malignant Triton tumor, with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation. The authors present a challenging differential diagnosis of a sciatic pain and foot drop in a woman with history of lumbar disk herniation, which was found to be caused by a Triton tumor of the sciatic nerve. She underwent surgical excision, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Malignant Triton tumor cases have rarely been described and reported in the literature. The recommended treatment is radical excision followed by high-dose radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis, although poor, depends on the location, grade, and completeness of surgical margins.