Dumbbell-shaped peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the spine--case report and review of the literature.

Primary spinal peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (pPNETs) are extremely rare. Here, we present a case study of a 29-year-old male with a dumbbell-shaped pPNET at the T9-10 spine level, including details of his examination, surgical procedures applied, histological and genetic findings, and his subsequent treatment. We discuss the clinical course, the pathology and treatment for this disease, the surgical approach to thoracic dumbbell tumors and we review the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of a dumbbell-shaped intradural and spinal peripheral PNET.