Cervical primitive neuroectodermal tumor

Background. Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are rare and potentially aggressive malignancies. Case. A 24-year-old woman in her eighth week of pregnancy presented with a cervical mass. Tissue biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated carcinosarcoma. with neuroendocrine features. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis of PNET. Treatment included alternating courses of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine (CAV) and ifosfamide, etoposide (IE). A radical hysterectomy with bilateral ovarian transposition and periaortic lymphadenectomy was performed with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient remains disease free 2 years from therapy. Conclusion. This is a rare case of cervical PNET occurring in a pregnant patient. A review of the literature indicates that cervical PNET is distinguishable from uterine PNET. This tumor affects younger women and may have a different histogenesis. Pregnancy should not delay diagnosis of this potentially aggressive tumor. (C) 2001 Academic Press.