Diagnostic Clue of Meningeal Melanocytoma: Case Report and Review of Literature

In this report, the patient was pre-diagnosed as meningioma before surgery, which turned out to be meningeal melanocytoma. Hence, we will discuss the interpretation of imaging and neurological statuses that may help avoid this problem. A 45-year-old man had increasing pain around the neck 14 months prior to admission. His cervical spine MR imaging revealed a space-occupying, contrast-enhancing mass within the dura at the level of C1. The neurologic examination revealed that the patient had left-sided lower extremity weakness of 4+, decreased sensation on the right side, and hyperreflexia in both legs. Department of Neuroradiology interpreted CT and MR imaging as meningiom. The patient underwent decompression and removal of the mass. We confirmed diagnosis as meningeal melanocytoma through pathologic findings. Afterwards, we reviewed the patient's imaging work-up, which showed typical findings of meningeal melanocytoma. However, it was mistaken as meningioma, since the disease is rare.

Primary Meningeal Melanocytoma in the Thoracic Spine: A Case Report

Meningeal melanocytoma is a rare benign melanotic tumor arising from melanocytic cells in the leptomeninges. Preoperative differential diagnosis of meningeal melanocytoma from other melanotic tumors is difficult based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Definitive diagnosis of meningeal melanocytoma from other melanotic tumors is done on the basis of histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The prognosis of this tumor is not always favorable with occasional local recurrence, especially in cases of subtotal gross resection. The authors report on a case of a 58-year-old man who presented with a melanocytoma located at the T7-8 level. The patient underwent on a total surgical excision for successful control of the tumor. During a follow-up period of 2 years, the patient presented no signs of recurrence. We emphasize the importance of discrimination of meningeal melanocytoma from other melanotic tumors to facilitate appropriate treatment. Complete resection is the treatment of choice for spinal melanocytoma. Radiation therapy should be reserved for those cases in which complete resection is not possible or in which there is recurrence.

Intracranial Meningeal Melanocytoma: Case Report

The majority of melanotic neoplasms of central nervous system(CNS) are metastatic in origin and rarely a primary CNS melanomas, and are usually histologically and clinically malignant in nature. The meningeal melanocytomas are benign, primary melanotic neoplasm and are less common than primary CNS melanoma. They usually present in early adult and have a characteristic appearance in light and electron microscope. A 42-year-old male is presented with pain on the neck and suboccipital region which was worse with flexion and Valsalva's maneuver. MRI revealed homogenous high signal intensity on the T 1 weighted image and low signal intensity on the T 2 weighted image. At operation, the tumor was well circumscribed, pigmented lesion and was attached to dura and cord. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of spindled and epithelioid cells with often prominent nucleoli, without evidence of mitosis and necrosis.

Spinal meningeal melanocytoma

A case of spinal meningeal melanocytoma is reported along with clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies. This patient presented clinically with paraparesis, tingling sensation and numbness of both lower extremities of 4 months duration. No mucocutaneous pigmented nevi were found. On operation, scattered coal-black pigmented lesions were found in the meninges between T3 and T4-5 interspace level. Nearly total removal was carried out. The tumor was composed of spindle and epithelioid cells with heavy brown-black pigmentation. There was no pleomorphism, mitosis, hemorrhage, necrosis or invasion to the underlying cord tissue. In Korea, this case appears to be the first example of this disease. Neurologic deficit improved after surgical excision.

Meningeal Melanocytoma Associated with Ota's Nevus: Report of a case

Primary meningeal melanocytoma of the central nervous system is extremely rare. We report a case of meningeal melanocytoma associated with Ota's nevus as a recurrent form in a 53-year old male. The meningeal melanocytoma was removed from right parietooccipital lobe 4 years ago and recurred in right parietal, occipital and left frontal lobes. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells were characterized by the presence of numerous melanosomes and premelanosomes in their cytoplasm. Moreover, the tumor was lacking in histologic and ultrastructural features of pigmented meningioma, melanotic schwannoma and prolonged clinical course was different from primary meningeal melanoma or metastatic malignant melanoma.