title: Melanoma arising in a spinal nerve root. Case report.
abstract: Melanotic neoplasms of the spinal nerve root are rare but well-documented occurrences. The authors report the case of a 68-year-old woman with a malignant melanotic neoplasm containing premelanosomes and melanosomes and lacking a basal lamina. This tumor was found in a lumbar nerve root and is believed to represent an instance of a primary melanoma arising in a spinal nerve root. The differential diagnosis of pigmented lesions of spinal nerve root includes melanoma, pigmented nerve sheath tumor, blue nevus, melanotic clear-cell sarcoma, and meningeal melanocytoma. Surgeons should be aware of the potential for encountering unexpected malignant lesions involving spinal nerve roots.
authors: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Schneider
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Blacklock
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Bruner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery