Primary Carcinosarcoma of the Skin in an African Albino: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Albinism results from a deficiency of the protein responsible for melanin production in melanocytes. Albinos are at an increased risk of dermatoses and malignancies. Primary carcinosarcoma of the skin is an exceedingly rare biphasic tumor composed of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal elements with an unclear histogenesis. To our knowledge, this has not been reported in an African albino. Here, we report the index case of this rare tumor in an albino of African descent.

Scalp Plexiform Neurofibrosarcoma With Intrathoracic Fibrosarcoma: A Case Report.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common form of neurofibromatosis. It is associated with neurofibromas, gliomas, neurofibrosarcomas, and neuroendocrine and hematopoietic tumors. We present a case of scalp plexiform neurofibromatosis associated with intrathoracic fibrosarcoma. An 18-year-old female presented with a 15-year history of plexiform scalp mass. She had multiple café-au-lait patches on her trunk and extremities and a first-degree relative with a plexiform right shoulder mass. She was managed by a multidisciplinary team of plastic and reconstructive surgeons, neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, otorhinolaryngologists, ophthalmologists, pulmonologists, and pathologists. The histology of the excised scalp mass was that of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (neurofibrosarcoma). She subsequently developed upper chest and back pain with associated breathlessness and was found to have an intra-thoracic tumor. She had two sessions of exploratory right thoracotomy with subtotal excision of an aggressive, highly hemorrhagic, infiltrative mucinous tumor. The histology was a fibrosarcoma. The patient died a few hours following the second thoracotomy. NF1 is associated with several tumors, among which are neurofibrosarcomas. Intra-thoracic fibrosarcoma requires aggressive surgical resection; recurrence may be delayed with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis is however poor, and survival beyond one year is unusual. Once one tumor is found, other body systems should be evaluated for the possibility of other tumors.