[Clinical manifestations and treatment of melanoma of the central nervous system: analysis of 15 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of melanomas of the central nervous system.


METHODS
The clinical data, including presentation, treatment, operative finding, histological diagnosis and prognosis of 15 patients with melanomas of central nervous system who underwent surgery 1996 - 2003 were reviewed.


RESULTS
There were 12 cases of intracranial melanoma and 3 cases of spinal cord melanomas. No distinctive symptoms occurred in these patients. Total resection was achieved in 5 cases, and subtotal resection in 10 cases. Histological examination showed melanoma in 10 cases, meningeal melanocytoma in 4 cases, and amelanotic melanoma in 1 case. Ten cases were followed up for 3 months to 9 years. Among the 10 cases only 1 survived.


CONCLUSIONS
Melanoma of the central nervous system is an extremely rare tumor and difficult to get correct preoperative diagnosis. Microsurgery combined with radiotherapy or gamma-knife therapy is recommended. The prognosis is very poor.
Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Beijing 100050, China.
Yong
Y
Li
Shuo
S
Wang
Ji-zong
JZ
Zhao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein