Primary intramedullary melanocytoma of the spinal cord: case report.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report 2 cases of primary intramedullary spinal melanocytomas in 2 patients who presented with lower extremity numbness and/or weakness.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine, thoracic laminectomy, and histological examination revealed the diagnosis.


METHODS
Microscopic and immunohistochemical analysis revealed the diagnosis of primary melanocytoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Melanocytomas of the spine are rare lesions without distinctive imaging characteristics and pose a preoperative diagnostic challenge. A review of the relevant literature and clinical behavior of this uncommon tumor entity is provided.
Karikari
Isaac O
IO
Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Powers
Ciaran J
CJ
Bagley
Carlos A
CA
Cummings
Thomas J
TJ
Radhakrishnan
Senthilkumar
S
Friedman
Allan H
AH
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult