[Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Vagus nerve sarcoma].

A young man was seen for a mass on the left side of the neck. Computed tomography revealed a round mass suggesting a lymph node metastasis with a necrotic center. Fine needle aspiration found mesenchymal cells. The tumor excised from its location on the Xth left cranial nerve was found to be a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Treatment was complemented by regional irradiation. After concluding complementary treatment in April 1996, the patient currently is disease-free. This type of soft-tissue sarcoma is reviewed. Survival depends on tumoral size and cellular differentiation.