Intracranial malignant melanoma: A report of 7 cases

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical diagnosis and treatment of intracranial malignant melanoma. For this purpose, the clinical manifestation, signs, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contents, imageology, pathological features, treatment and prognosis of 7 cases of intracranial malignant melanoma were analyzed in The Chinese PLA General Hospital (Beijing, China) from 1996 to 2013. All the melanoma cases were confirmed by histopathology, and CSF cytopathology demonstrated that there were 5 cases of primary malignant melanoma and 2 cases of secondary malignant melanoma. Among the patients, 4 presented with >1 pigmented nevus in the skin, and 1 presented with skin melanoma. Intracranial malignant melanoma mostly affects middle-aged males. CSF cytopathology and imageology (particularly enhanced magnetic resonance), are important tools in the diagnosis of the disease. Particularly, when a patient presents with a pigmented nevus in the skin and an abnormal lesion in the brain, a diagnosis of intracranial malignant melanoma should be considered.

Multifocal primary amelanotic meningeal melanomas mimicking lymphoma: a case report and literature review

“…Primary meningeal melanoma is a rare biologically aggressive tumor that occurs in around 1% of all melanoma cases and 0.07% of all brain tumors. [2][3][4][5] Amelanotic meningeal melanoma' (AMM) is an extremely rare type and multiple niduses are more rare . The quantity of melanin pigment in these tumors, as well as the existence of intratumoral hemorrhages, determine their various imaging features.…”

Malignant melanoma with central nervous system involvement in a dog treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy

“…Primary CNS melanomas occur in human beings rarely, representing only 1 per cent of all melanomas and 0.07 per cent of all the CNS tumours. [3][4][5] Several histogenesis theories have been proposed: mesodermal theory (the pigmented cells derive from the mesoderm and reach the brain or spinal cord via the pial blood vessels), ectodermal theory (epithelial cells only can produce pigment, and therefore CNS melanoma derives from aberrant embryonic ectodermal cells) and neurogenic theory (the pigment cells can originate from the neural crest, which can develop into mesodermal and neural elements). 6 The second hypothesis would be that this melanoma originated from the melanocytes located in the sinonasal cavity and then extended into the cranial cavity.…”

Primary cerebral malignant melanoma

“…[ 17 , 18 ] In recent years, the most effective and common chemotherapy drug is dacarbazine, which could be used after operation or radiotherapy, presenting the effectiveness rate of 16% to 20%. [ 3 ] Previously, some researches indicated that stereotaxic radiosurgery (SRS), alone or plus whole-brain radiotherapy, might improve lifespans of cerebral melanoma patients. [ 20 ] Salpietro et al [ 21 ] put forward that specific immunotherapies were crucial adjuvant methods in treating small residual malignant melanomas, and presented low toxicities.…”

“…Primary cerebral melanomas, derived from the melanocytic element normally present in the leptomeninges, are rare and occur in around 1% of all melanoma cases. [ 2 , 3 ] Although preoperative anamnesis and computed tomography (CT) patterns are very similar to the presences of meningiomas or benign melanocytomas, these tumors show variable prognosis that depends on tumor site and extent of resection; therefore, to make an accurate diagnosis and identify the exact extent of the tumor area is important. [ 1 ] Most patients with cerebral melanomas show clinical manifestation of increased intracerebral pressure (43%), neurological dysfunctions (35%), convulsion or subarachnoid hemorrhage (16%).…”