A rare case of primary spinal cord melanoma

Abstract

Primary central nervous system melanoma is rare, accounting for approximately 1% of total melanoma cases (1-3). Primary central nervous system melanoma localized to the spinal cord is even rarer. The cervical and thoracic levels are most frequently involved. There are no pathognomonic imaging characteristics and diagnosis must be confirmed immunohistologically. The preferred treatment is gross total resection. Utilization of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy may improve disease-free survival. The prognosis for primary central nervous system melanoma is generally better than that of metastatic and cutaneous melanoma, although there are relatively few cases from which to draw conclusions. We report a case of a 64-year-old woman diagnosed with primary spinal melanoma of the thoracic spine treated with subtotal surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation therapy.

An uncommon intramedullary tumor: Primary medullary cone melanoma

“…As the diagnosis must be pathologically and immunohistologically confirmed, the patient in this study underwent gross total excision; this is preferred over biopsy or partial excision where feasible. [ 3 , 7 ]…”

“…Postoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are often recommended but there is no, clear evidence regard their efficacy. [ 7 , 6 ]…”

Primäres malignes Melanom des Rückenmarks

“…Melanome können jedoch selten in anderen Körperteilen auftreten, in denen Melanozyten oder Melanozytenvorläuferzellen vorhanden sind. Das primäre Melanom des Zentralnervensystems (ZNS), u. a. des Rückenmarks ist äußerst selten, nur etwa 1 % aller Melanomfälle [1]. Die Diagnose sollte nach den von Hayward [3] beschriebenen Kriterien erfolgen: Fehlen eines Melanoms außerhalb des ZNS, gefolgt von einer histologischen Bestätigung des Melanoms.…”

“…Das maligne Melanom ist ein aggressiver Tumor melanozytärer Ursprung mit der höchsten Metastasierungs-und Mortalitätsrate aller Hautkrebsarten. Der Krebs kann überall dort auftreten wo Melanozyten oder deren Vorläuferzellen sich befinden [4].…”

“…The primary melanoma of the central nervous system is about 1 % of all melanoma cases and so extremely rare [1]. The disease demonstrate diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic challenges.…”