Askin Tumors in Children / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinicopathological features and enhance the knowledge of Askin tumor in children. Methods The clinicopathological features of 4 cases of children with Askin tumor were described. Results Clinically, the tumor was often seen in elder child patients with painful thoracopulmonary masses.Histopathologically, the nest-like or lobular structures composed of small round-to-oval cells were surrounded by sparse fibrovascular stroma. Among tumor cells there were no or few resticular fibers,however in the surrounding of tumor masses the fibers were found. PAS staining in the tumor in a part of cases was positive. The positive rates of CD99 and Syn detected by immunohistochemistry were high. Neurosecretory granules can be observed by electron microscopy. Two patients received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy three patients died of metastatic tumor of lung and brain and chemotherapy complication in 24,25 and 5 months, respectively. Conclusions Askin tumor is a highly malignant neurosecretory tumor in thoracopulmonary region, which often be misdiagnosed as neuroblastoma, lymphoma, embryonal rhabdomyo sarcoma, tuberculosis and lung abscess, and requires a synthetical treatment plan consisting of pre-and postoperative chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical resection. The treatment methods of Askin tumor needs to be further studied.