Resection of a giant malignant mediastinal peripheral nerve sheath tumour under cardiopulmonary bypass

Su JW, Chua YL, Ong BH, Lim CH
Correspondence: Dr Jang Wen Su, bottle1001@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) is a rare occurrence in the mediastinum. It is biologically aggressive and is generally resistant to chemoradiation therapy. The mainstay of treatment is complete surgical resection. We report a large MPNST which invaded into the adjacent aortic wall in a 50-year-old man. Extensive resection, which included aortic reconstruction under cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic arrest, was necessary for a good long-term outcome.

Keywords: aortic reconstruction, cardiopulmonary bypass, malignant mediastinal peripheral nerve sheath tumour, mediastinal nerve sheath tumour, phrenic nerve tumour
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(6): e199-e200