Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor of the ileum: A case report and review of imaging characteristics

Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumors (MGNETs) are extremely rare malignant mesenchymal tumors derived from ectodermal neural cells of the gastrointestinal tract that most commonly arise in the small intestine. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging owing to the lack of well-established imaging characteristics. Here, we report the case of a 50-year-old female patient with MGNET of the ileum. Computed tomography revealed a highly lobulated hypervascular mass and circumferential wall thickening in the distal ileum, whereas magnetic resonance imaging revealed marked diffusion restriction. A laparoscopic ileal resection was performed. The patient remained recurrence-free for 1 year without additional treatment. Specific imaging characteristics observed in our case, including the combined pattern of wall thickening and submucosal mass formation, marked diffusion restriction, and highly lobulated appearance, may aid in differentiating MGNET from other tumors.