Melanotic progonoma of the skull in infancy.
BACKGROUND
Melanotic progonoma or melanotic neuroectodermal tumor is a rare tumor in infancy. This lesion has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of benign or malignant lesions of calvarium.


METHODS
The authors present a case of a 4-month-old infant with left retroauricular mass. The patient had a subcutaneous mass that is fixed to the underlying skull. CT and MRI scans showed left occipitotemporal expansile mass. The tumor was removed by surgery. A tumor, brownish-black in color, was diagnosed as melanotic progonoma. The patient remained symptom-free for the last 2 years after complete surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Extracranial subcutaneous masses involving the skull are uncommon in infants. Benign or malignant lesions may occur as lumps on calvarium. Physical examination and some laboratory findings are helpful in the assessment of patient. Benign or malignant lesions can be differentiated by craniography, CT, or MRI scans, but exact diagnosis of melanotic progonoma is made by histopathology and immunostaining, as was in the presented case. Cranial vault progonomas have a better outcome by complete surgery. The tumors usually do not recur in long-term period.
Kantar
Mehmet
M
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Ege University School of Medicine, 35100, Izmir, Turkey. mehmet.kantar@ege.edu.tr
Sezak
Murat
M
Turhan
Tuncer
T
Kitis
Omer
O
Mutluer
Saffet
S
Demirag
Bengu K
BK
Aksoylar
Serap
S
Akalin
Taner
T
Ersahin
Yusuf
Y
Cetingul
Nazan
N
D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017600:Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed