Racial/ethnic disparities and incidence of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: results from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 2000–2014

Background Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare tumors, generally high-grade, and comprise ~ 5–10% of soft tissue sarcomas. Over two-thirds of MPNSTs metastasize, and upwards of 40% clinically recur. Etiologic risk factors for MPNSTs are historically understudied. There is evidence to suggest MPNST incidence differs across racial/ethnic groups in pediatric populations. Therefore, we sought to estimate differences in MPNST incidence by race/ethnicity among all ages in the United States.