Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour: a rare tumour and an unusual intrapericardial presentation

A 62-year-old man presented with superior vena caval obstruction and was found to have a tumour in the pericardial cavity. This was diagnosed as a Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour (MPNST), an uncommon sarcoma that is exceedingly rare in this location. Stigmata of von Recklinghausen's disease were absent. Antibodies to a panel of immunoreactive markers were utilised to establish the diagnosis and exclude other tumours. The utility of such an approach in this kind of situation is briefly discussed.