Malignant small cell tumor of the thoracopulmonary region (Askin tumor)

A series of malignant small cell tumors primarily involve the soft tissue of the chest wall and lung wasdescribed by Askin in 1970. This rare tumor has a neuroepithelial origin and affects children and young adult,characteristically. Histologic overlap between other small cell neoplasms usually makes differentiation difficult,and immunochemical and electron microscopic features play a role in differentiation. Radiologic appearence waschest wall or pleural based mass with or wtihout rib destruction and/or pleural change. Authors experienced twocases of malignant small cell tumor of the thoracopulmonary region, and report with review of literatures.