Primary leptomeningeal melanomatosis: early leptomeningeal enhancement on MRI.
One unusual case of primary leptomeningeal melanomatosis is presented. The patient, 53-year-old male, was admitted to our observation for 1 month history of psychasthenia and amnesia. Despite several polyspecialistic clinical, neuroradiological and cytological examinations, conclusive diagnosis was made only with a biopsy of leptomeningeal nodule. The present case allows as to identify 2 stages in the evolution of primary diffuse leptomeningeal melanomatosis. The initial phase is characterized by slight mental impairment without hydrocephalus; during the later phase there is severe, diffuse neurological impairment and both CT and MRI show hypercaptation of the intracranial leptomeninges and multiple, leptomeningeal tumoral nodules.
Celli
P
P
Department of Neurological Sciences, II Chair of Neurosurgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Acqui
M
M
Trillò
G
G
Ramundo
E O
EO
D'Andrea
G
G
Roperto
R
R
Ferrante
L
L
D000647:Amnesia / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology