title: [Malignant melanoma of the meninges--MR and CT diagnosis].
abstract: Malignant melanoma of the meninges is a rare neoplasm derived from melanocytes of the cranial or spinal meninges. Histologically classified as grade IV tumours, malignant melanoma may present either as a diffuse meningeal neoplasm, first described by Virchow in 1859, or as a circumscribed tumour attached to the meninges. Although diagnosis is rarely established prior to surgery or autopsy, MR and CT may provide indispensable information probably leading to earlier diagnosis. In 4 patients, diagnosis of a primary meningeal melanoma was based on MR and CT findings and histology. Histology was obtained in 3 cases by surgery, in one patient by autopsy and showed a melanotic and an amelanotic malignant melanoma in 2 patients each. Autopsy was carried out in 3 cases after survival of 4, 5, and 18 months; in a single case, the follow-up period is almost 3 years.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neuroradiologie, Universität Würzburg.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuknecht
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadjmi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Maligne Melanome der Meningen--MR- und CT-Diagnostik.