title: Primary intracranial melanocytic tumor simulating pituitary macroadenoma: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary intracranial melanocytic tumors are rare lesions, sellar ones being even more exceptional. So far, six melanomas and two melanocytomas have been described in an intrasellar and/or suprasellar location.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on the case of a 25-year-old Caucasian woman presenting with a 4-year history of amenorrhea and an intrasellar mass with suprasellar extension suggestive of a pituitary macroadenoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A gross subtotal resection of a hemorrhagic tumor was performed. Histological examination revealed melanin-laden pleomorphic tumor cells that tested positive for HMB-45 and S-100 and negative for cytokeratins, thus demonstrating that the tumor was a melanocytic neoplasm. An extensive workup failed to find evidence of any other primary site. The patient received no further treatment and is alive and well after 24 months of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary sellar melanocytic neoplasms are extremely rare lesions and present with few differential diagnoses. Deciding whether the tumor is best classified as a melanocytoma or a melanoma may prove difficult. Wide histological variations in both melanocytomas and melanomas render careful consideration of the clinical, radiological, and gross features essential in distinguishing one from the other.
authors.affiliation: Neuropathology Department, Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kujas
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varlet
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins