Intramedullary Melanocytoma: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

We report on a very rare case of dorsal intramedullary melanocytoma in a 62-year-old man. The tumor was resected and gross total removal was achieved. During a 2-year follow-up period in which no radiotherapy was given, the tumor did not recur. We review the literature on these tumors and present disease criteria to distinguish melanocytoma from primary malignant melanoma. Patients and investigators should be cautioned that an intramedullary melanocytoma may recur and give rise to metastatic spread via the cerebrospinal fluid.

Cervical intramedullary melanocytoma: A case report and review of literature

“…4 This tumour is most commonly found in women with an average age of 43 years (range, 19-79 years). Meningeal melanocytomas are derived from leptomeningeal melanocytes; thus, most of the spinal lesions are intradural and extramedullary in location.…”

Primary intramedullary melanocytoma in the cervical spinal cord: Case report and literature review

“…Twenty-three cases ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , Table 1) of spinal intramedullary melanocytomas have been reported in the literature since 1993; we add a further case description of this rare tumor entity. We would like to point out that Iida et al ( 4 ) reported two cases with spinal melanocytoma—one intradural extramedullary located and the other intramedullary manifested—and we review only the one case with the intramedullary tumor.…”

“…Primary melanocytic neoplasms of the meninges (meningeal melanocytomas) are uncommon neoplasms of the central nervous system; only 23 cases have been published up to now ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ; Table 1). These neoplasms may occur in a diffuse or localized form ( 15 , 16 ).…”

Primary Melanocytomas of the Spinal Cord: Case Studies and Rehabilitation Perspectives

“…4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 These intramedullary variants derive from melanocytes of the parenchymal perivascular spaces, also known as Virchow-Robin spaces, and occur most commonly in the lower thoracic spinal cord. 5 , 10 …”