title: Intra-axial brainstem malignant melanoma mimicking cavernous angioma--case report.
abstract: A 41-year-old female presented with repeated pontine hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the pontine hemorrhage as a heterogeneously enhanced mass mimicking cavernous angioma. The mass lesion was removed via a midline suboccipital approach. Histological examination showed malignant melanoma cells. No cutaneous lesion was found and positron emission tomography found no abnormalities. Our presumptive diagnosis was primary intra-axial brainstem malignant melanoma. The possibility of malignant melanoma should be considered in patients with intra-axial brainstem lesion associated with repeated hemorrhages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni.
authors.forename: Mitsuya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003399:Craniotomy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015376:Nimustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012086:Reoperation; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D013629:Tamoxifen; D015376:Nimustine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D002945:Cisplatin