title: Melanocytic schwannoma of the spinal cord: a case report.
abstract: Melanocytic schwannoma of the spinal cord is a tumour composed of Schwann cells capable of producing intracellular melanin. We present a case report of a 25-year-old male with melanocytic schwannoma of the 5th lumbar spinal cord root; the patient is alive and well 48 months after neurosurgical removal of the tumour. A review of the literature revealed 14 similar cases. These tumours have a local recurrence rate of up to 14%, and have a metastatic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Loberant
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kessel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome