 |
|
Coexistence of 3 Tumors of Neural Crest Origin
Neurofibroma, Meningioma, and Uveal Malignant Melanoma
Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:1241-1243.
ABSTRACT
Objective To describe the clinical findings in a patient who developed a neurofibroma, meningioma, and choroidal melanoma.
Methods Clinical and histopathological findings of the case are reviewed and presented.
Results The patient had a right superolateral periorbital neurofibroma, a right sphenoid wing meningioma, and a left choroidal juxtapapillary malignant melanoma. All 3 tumors are derived from neural crest cells.
Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with this combination of 3 neural crest–derived tumors. This case is most appropriately classified as a complex neurocristopathy, a disorder involving the aberrant and pathological proliferation of multiple tissues derived from neural crest cells.
INTRODUCTION
EVIDENCE OF the simultaneous occurrence of neurofibromas and meningiomas in patients has been well established.1 This condition typically occurs when the patient has neurofibromatosis type 1 or type 2. Neurofibromas have also been associated with cutaneous and uveal malignant melanomas.2-4 In addition, patients with both meningiomas and cutaneous malignant melanomas have been described.5 To our knowledge, however, this is the first description of a patient who developed all 3 tumor types: a neurofibroma, a meningioma, and a uveal malignant melanoma.
REPORT OF A CASE
A 64-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of diabetic retinopathy. Her medical history included diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension. She had no personal or family history of neurofibromatosis type 1 or type 2, nor did she have systemic, cutaneous, or iris lesions suggestive of either of these disorders. Visual acuities were 20/25 OD and 20/20 OS. External examination revealed a right superolateral periorbital mass (Figure 1). Funduscopic examination revealed mild bilateral background diabetic retinopathy and a flat, left juxtapapillary choroidal nevus of approximately 3 disc diameter. The patient subsequently underwent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies of her head and orbits. The computed tomographic scan demonstrated a poorly defined right superolateral periorbital soft tissue mass. The magnetic resonance imaging scan showed an intensely enhanced extra-axial 4-cm soft tissue mass in the right middle cranial fossa, consistent with a sphenoid wing meningioma (Figure 2). Excision of the right periorbital mass revealed a neurofibroma (Figure 3); results of an S100 immunohistochemistry test were strongly positive. Examination of the excised middle cranial fossa mass verified the radiographic diagnosis of a meningioma (Figure 4). Thirteen months after the initial examination, visual acuity had decreased to 20/400 OS. Funduscopic examination revealed an enlarged, elevated, pigmented superior juxtapapillary choroidal tumor (Figure 5). B-scan ultrasonography showed a choroidal mass with a maximum thickness of 3.5 mm; A-scan ultrasonography demonstrated medium internal reflectivity. A clinical diagnosis of a uveal malignant melanoma was made and an enucleation was performed. Pathological analysis revealed an epithelioid cell–rich, mixed cell–type juxtapapillary malignant melanoma of the choroid that was approximately 8 mm in diameter (Figure 6). On a microscopic level, the tumor extended past the sclera along several posterior emissarial canals of vessels and nerves to the epibulbar surface. The tumor had also invaded the subarachnoid space of the optic nerve. One year postoperatively, the patient is doing well and shows no evidence of tumor recurrence.
|
|
|
|
Figure 1. Right superolateral periorbital mass.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 2. Axial view of a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the head that shows an intensely enhanced extra-axial 4-cm soft tissue mass of the right middle cranial fossa consistent with a sphenoid wing meningioma.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 3. Microscopic section of the right superolateral periorbital mass that shows sheets of cells of neural origin consistent with a neurofibroma (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification x40).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 4. Microscopic section of the right middle cranial fossa mass showing a meningioma (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification x400).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 5. Fundus photograph of left eye showing a superior juxtapapillary pigmented choroidal tumor with overlying intraretinal hemorrhages.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 6. Microscopic section of the choroidal tumor of the left eye showing an epithelioid cell–rich, mixed cell–type malignant melanoma (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification x250).
|
|
|
COMMENT
The peripheral nervous system, leptomeninges, and melanocytes all originate from neural crest cells. These specialized neuroectodermal cells form parallel ridges along the dorsolateral area of the embryonic neural tube and give rise to many structures in addition to the above tissues, including the entire autonomic nervous system, the chromaffin cell system (including the adrenal medulla), and the connective tissues of the face. Bolande6 has termed disorders resulting from aberrations in the growth and development of neural crest–derived structures "neurocristopathies." Simple neurocristopathies are localized, unifocal pathological processes involving tissues derived from neural crest cells. Examples include pheochromocytomas, neuroblastomas, medullary carcinomas of the thyroid, and carcinoid tumors. Complex neurocristopathies are multifocal, variegated associations of simple neurocristopathies.6 The neurofibromatoses are the most common examples of complex neurocristopathies and are characterized by pathological hamartomatous proliferations of neural crest–derived tissues. Associated tumors include neurofibromas, schwannomas, pheochromocytomas, meningiomas, gliomas, and malignant melanomas. While our patient did not meet the criteria for either neurofibromatosis type 1 or type 2, the combination of 3 tumors of neural crest origin in this case classifies it as a complex neurocristopathy. This case serves to remind physicians encountering a patient with multiple tumors of neural crest origin to be suspicious of a complex neurocristopathy and to be aware of the potential existence of other benign and/or malignant tumors of neural crest origin.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Accepted for publication May 5, 1998.
Reprints: John D. Bullock, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Wright State University School of Medicine, 500 Lincoln Park Blvd, Suite 104, Dayton, OH 45429-3487.
Ronald E. Warwar, MD;
John D. Bullock, MD;
Jerry A. Shields, MD;
Ralph C. Eagle, Jr, MD
From the Departments of Ophthalmology (Drs Warwar and Bullock) and Physiology and Biophysics (Dr Bullock), Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio; and the Departments of Ocular Oncology (Dr Shields) and Ocular Pathology (Dr Eagle), Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa.
REFERENCES
1. Eljamel MSM, Foy PM. Multiple meningiomas and their relation to neurofibromatosis. Surg Neurol. 1989;32:131-136.
PUBMED
2. Duve S, Rakoski J. Cutaneous melanoma in a patient with neurofibromatosis: a case report and review of the literature. Br J Dermatol. 1994;131:290-294.
PUBMED
3. Wiznia RA, Freedman JK, Mancini AD, Shields JA. Malignant melanoma of the choroid in neurofibromatosis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1978;86:684-687.
PUBMED
4. Antle CM, Damji KF, White VA, Rootman J. Uveal malignant melanoma and optic nerve glioma in von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1990;74:502-504.
FREE FULL TEXT
5. Azizi E, Friedman J, Pavlotsky F, et al. Familial cutaneous malignant melanoma and tumors of the nervous system. Cancer. 1995;76:1571-1578.
FULL TEXT
|
ISI
| PUBMED
6. Bolande RP. Neurocristopathy: its growth and development in 20 years. Pediatr Pathol Lab Med. 1997;17:1-25.
FULL TEXT
|
ISI
| PUBMED
SECTION EDITOR: W. RICHARD GREEN, MD
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Occult retinal and choroidal lesions in neurofibromatosis type 1.
Ishiko et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2006;90:1067-1068.
FULL TEXT
Status of the NF1 Tumor Suppressor Locus in Uveal Melanoma
Foster et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:1311-1315.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
