Primary diffuse meningeal melanomatosis: radiologic-pathologic correlation.
We report a case of primary diffuse meningeal melanomatosis, a rare variant of primary malignant melanoma of the CNS, in a 68-year-old woman. The disease mimicked intracranial hypotension syndrome and was diagnosed only at autopsy (CSF cytologic results were negative). CT revealed hydrocephalus with effacement of the cerebral convexity sulci and abnormal contrast enhancement in the right sylvian and frontoparietal fissures, whereas MR imaging showed diffuse marked dural and leptomeningeal contrast enhancement. In retrospect, these nonspecific findings correlated with the extensive leptomeningeal invasion in the cerebral hemispheres, brain stem and spinal cord. The clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of diffuse meningeal melanomatosis are reviewed.
Pirini
Maria-Giulia
MG
Pathology Unit of the Addarii Institute of Oncology, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, the University of Bologna, Italy.
Mascalchi
Mario
M
Salvi
Fabrizio
F
Tassinari
Carlo A
CA
Zanella
Licciana
L
Bacchini
Patrizia
P
Bertoni
Franco
F
D'Errico
Antonia
A
Corti
Barbara
B
Grigioni
Walter F
WF
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008578:Meninges / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed