MALIGNANT NERVE SHEATH TUMOR OF ACOUSTIC NERVE

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 107  (6) , 293-297
Abstract
A malignant nerve sheath tumor of the acoustic nerve was found in a 54-yr-old man whose right acoustic nerve signs had shown gradual worsening during the previous 5 yr. No stigmata of von Recklinghausen''s disease were noted. The tumor at autopsy extensively involved the brain stem, cerebellar hemisphere, tentorium of cerebellium, and cerebral occipitotemporal lobe on the right side. Histologically, the tumor was characterized by extreme hypercellularity, pleomorphism, and high mitotic activity. Ultrastructurally, there was an external lamina around the interdigitated cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Long-spacing collagens and junctional devices were also noted. This is the first known report of a malignant nerve sheath tumor in the acoustic nerve.