title: Transplacental transmission of metastatic melanoma to the posterior fossa. Case report.
abstract: The authors describe the first documented case of transplacental transmission of metastatic melanoma to the neuraxis. The patient was a 7-month-old boy who presented with signs and symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an inhomogeneously enhancing posterior fossa mass measuring 5 x 5 x 6 cm and filling the fourth ventricle. A posterior fossa craniotomy was performed. Pathological studies confirmed the presence of a metastatic melanoma that was pathologically identical to that of his mother. The boy received aggressive chemotherapy and underwent an additional resection. He also required a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for treatment of his hydrocephalus. He lived longer than any other patient with transplacental transmission of metastatic melanoma but ultimately died of the disease, 18 months after his initial presentation.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgeons for Kids, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women, Orlando, Florida, USA. etrumble@neurosurgeons4kids.com
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Trumble
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pearl
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt