Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy: a malignant tumor of the femur. 1982

R E Johnson, and B W Scheithauer, and D C Dahlin

An 18-month-old white girl had a malignant melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy of the left femur. Light microscopic findings of a biopsy specimen of the femoral lesion demonstrated the characteristic histologic features, that is, nests of small cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and scant cytoplasm lying within cleftlike spaces lined by cuboidal, melanin-producing cells. Electron microscopy confirmed both neuroblastic and melanocytic differentiation. Despite radiation and chemotherapy, an extensive pelvic tumor developed, which prompted laparotomy 20 months after the femoral biopsy, The apparently metastatic tumor was largely necrotic, but viable nests of undifferentiated small cells and rare individual melanin-containing cells were identified. The patient died 4 months later, at 3 years of age. This case is of particular importance because it is the first example of this tumor found in a long bone. No similar lesions were seen in 17,000 primary tumors of bone treated and seen in consultation at this institution. Its aggressively malignant clinical course is also unusual; only 6 of the 159 cases of melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy reported to date have expressed malignant behavior.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D009373 Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms composed of primordial GERM CELLS of embryonic GONADS or of elements of the germ layers of the EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. The concept does not refer to neoplasms located in the gonads or present in an embryo or FETUS. Germ Cell Cancer,Germ Cell Tumor,Neoplasms, Embryonal and Mixed,Cancer, Embryonal,Cancer, Embryonal and Mixed,Embryonal Neoplasms,Germ Cell Neoplasms,Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms,Germ Cell and Embryonic Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Embryonal,Neoplasms, Germ Cell,Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonic,Cancer, Germ Cell,Cancers, Embryonal,Cancers, Germ Cell,Embryonal Cancer,Embryonal Cancers,Embryonal Neoplasm,Germ Cell Cancers,Germ Cell Tumors,Neoplasm, Embryonal,Tumor, Germ Cell,Tumors, Germ Cell
D010386 Pelvic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the pelvic region. Cancer of Pelvis,Pelvic Cancer,Cancer of the Pelvis,Neoplasms of Pelvis,Pelvis Cancer,Pelvis Neoplasms,Cancer, Pelvic,Cancer, Pelvis,Cancers, Pelvic,Cancers, Pelvis,Neoplasm, Pelvic,Neoplasm, Pelvis,Neoplasms, Pelvic,Neoplasms, Pelvis,Pelvic Cancers,Pelvic Neoplasm,Pelvis Cancers,Pelvis Neoplasm
D005260 Female Females
D005266 Femoral Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue in the FEMUR. Femoral Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Femoral,Neoplasms, Femoral
D005269 Femur The longest and largest bone of the skeleton, it is situated between the hip and the knee. Trochanter,Greater Trochanter,Lesser Trochanter,Femurs,Greater Trochanters,Lesser Trochanters,Trochanter, Greater,Trochanter, Lesser,Trochanters,Trochanters, Greater,Trochanters, Lesser
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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