title: [Trigeminal neuralgia presenting as a deep recurrent desmoplastic neurotropic melanoma of a lentigo maligna].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurotropic melanoma is a particular anatomopathological form corresponding to dermal proliferation of desmoplastic cells of neuroid differentiation. We report a new case of neurotropic melanoma revealed by facial neuralgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 64 year-old man presented in 1996 with a lentigo maligna on the right cheek treated by complete excision. After 2 years of medical supervision, a pigmented lesion recurred leading to new surgical treatment. The histological examination of the total lesion showed intra-epidermal atypical melanocyte proliferation without dermal invasion. In 1999, right trigeminal neuralgia occurred without associated cutaneous change. Cranial MRI revealed an infiltration of the right trigeminal nerve. Endo-buccal surgery disclosed a black swelling of the trigeminal nerve. Histological examination and immunohistochemistry revealed a desmoplastic melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurotropic melanoma with nerve invasion by malignant cells presenting as a trigeminal neuralgia is rare. Our case report underlined the depth of the neurotropic melanoma and the initial existence of a lentigo maligna without associated "neurotropic" melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital La Grave, Toulouse.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fabre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gigaud
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lamant
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boulinguez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viraben
mesh_terms: D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology*