A case of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

Abstract

We compare the features of tumor imprint cytology (TIC) with those of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in a case of anaplastic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. A 56-year-old female patient with von Recklinghausen's disease presented with a subcutaneous tumor, measuring 3×3cm, in her back. TIC yielded from the surgically resected tumor containing mainly MFH-like large neoplastic cells which possessed bizarre nuclei; however, FNAC showing an admixture of large bizarre cells and spindle-shaped cells. We suggest that this discrepancy is caused by the difference in exfoliation between anaplastic bizarre tumor cells and spindle-shaped ones.