Malignant triton tumor of cervical spine with hemorrhage

Abstract

Malignant peripheral nerve-sheath tumours (MPNST) with a rhabdomyomatous component are referred to as malignant triton tumours. Cervical tritons are rare, with only one previous report. We present a 28-year-old male patient with a malignant triton tumor involving the cervical spine with neurofibromatosis Type 1 presenting with symptoms of rapidly progressive cord compression. Radiology was suggestive of a MPNST with hemorrhage at the C2–C3 level. He underwent surgery with decompression of the intradural, and a small part of the extradural, component. To our knowledge this is the first report of a cervical triton tumor presenting with an intratumoral bleed.