title: [Primary melanoma of the central nervous system].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the status of diagnosis and treatment of primary melanoma of the central nervous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with primary melanoma of the central nervous system underwent surgery in our department between 1969-1999. Clinical presentation, operative findings, histological diagnosis, and prognosis were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No typical symptom occurred in these patients. The lesions can mimic meningiomas and acoustic neuromas in location and radiological appearance. Total removal of tumors was only achieved in one case. Histological examination showed malignant lesions in 3 cases and benign lesions in others. Five cases were followed up and only two were alive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary melanomas are extremely rare tumors of the central nervous system. Surgical removal of the lesion may result in prolonged remission or cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult