Primary spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are rare and classified into peripheral and central types because the treatment strategy and outcome are different. This study describes five cases of primary spinal peripheral type PNETs. Magnetic resonance imaging showed large extradural masses in the cervical and thoracic spine with bony invasion and paraspinal extension in four cases and a transdural mass in the sacral spinal canal in one case. We also briefly summarize the imaging characteristics of 36 peripheral type and six central type primary spinal PNETs in the literature.
RorkeLB. The cerebellar medulloblastoma and its relationship to primitive neuroectodermal tumors. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol.1983; 42: 1–15.
5.
LadanyiMLewisRGarin-ChesaP. Ews rearrangement in ewing's sarcoma and peripheral neuroectodermal tumor. Molecular detection and correlation with cytogenetic analysis and mic2 expression. Diagn Mol Pathol.1993; 2: 141–146.
6.
AlbrechtCFWeissESchulz-SchaefferWJ. Primary intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor: Report of two cases and review of the literature. J Neurooncol.2003; 61: 113–120.
7.
CoffinCMDehnerLP. Peripheral neurogenic tumors of the soft tissues in children and adolescents: A clinicopathologic study of 139 cases. Pediatr Pathol.1989; 9: 387–407.
8.
KhongPLChanGCShekTW. Imaging of peripheral pnet: Common and uncommon locations. Clin Radiol.2002; 57: 272–277.
DickEAMcHughKKimberC. Imaging of non-central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumours: Diagnostic features and correlation with outcome. Clin Radiol.2001; 56: 206–215.
11.
KimMSKimBParkCS. Radiologic findings of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising in the retroperitoneum. Am J Roentgenol.2006; 186: 1125–1132.
12.
KumarRReddySJWaniAA. Primary spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor: Case series and review of the literature. Pediatr Neurosurg.2007; 43: 1–6.
13.
SinghAChandKSinghH. Atypical neurocytoma of the spinal cord in a young child. Childs Nerv Syst.2007; 23: 207–211.
14.
SharmaSSarkarCGaikwadS. Primary neurocytoma of the spinal cord: A case report and review of literature. J Neurooncol.2005; 74: 47–52.
15.
KovarH. Ewing's sarcoma and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors after their genetic union. Curr Opin Oncol.1998; 10: 334–342.
16.
BratDJParisiJEKleinschmidt-DeMastersBK. Surgical neuropathology update: A review of changes introduced by the who classification of tumours of the central nervous system, 4th edition. Arch Pathol Lab Med.2008; 132: 993–1007.
17.
KivrakASKocOEmlikD. Differential diagnosis of dumbbell lesions associated with spinal neural foraminal widening: Imaging features. Eur J Radiol.2009; 71: 29–41.
