Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with neurofibromatosis type 1: a 2-case report and review of the literature.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is a very rare soft tissue tumor in the general population but there is an increased incidence in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. Two cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 whom we were able to follow-up long term are presented. Although wide excision was performed successfully in these patients, they suffered from local recurrence of the tumors shortly after surgery and died with distant metastases. The literature concerning the natural history and the management of this specific condition was reviewed.

Specific IgA antibody to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen: a better marker for screening nasopharyngeal carcinoma than EBV-DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. To assess whether EBV DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or presence of specific serum antibody to viral capsid antigen (VCA) was a better marker for screening NPC, nasopharyngeal tissues and blood samples from 58 NPC patients and 24 non-NPC patients (23 with laryngotracheal stenosis and 1 with chronic tonsillitis) were tested for the presence of EBV DNA and serum specific VCA antibodies, respectively. EBV DNA was detected in 56 (96.5%) of NPC patients and 15 (62.5%) of non-NPC controls, with predominantly EBV type A in both groups. On the other hand, specific VCA IgA antibody was detected in the majority of NPC patients: 52 (89.7%) while only 4 (16.7%) were detected in non-NPC controls. Therefore, specific VCA IgA antibody may serve as a better marker for screening NPC than EBV DNA detected by PCR.