[Primitive leptomeningeal malignant melanoma: a rare etiology of pachymeningitis and leptomeningitis].
BACKGROUND
Leptomeningitis and pachymeningitis are known to occur consecutive to many causes.


METHODS
We report the case of a 24-year-old woman with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and repeated switching transient hemiparesis. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a pachyleptomeningitis. Search for a cause was negative. The pathology examination of meningeal tissue revealed a malignant melanoma, without any sign of cutaneous melanoma, leading to the diagnosis of primary leptomeningeal malignant melanoma.


CONCLUSIONS
A meningeal biopsy can enable the rare diagnosis of primary leptomeningeal malignant melanoma in a patient with unexplained pachyleptomeningitis.
Bocquillon
P
P
Service de neurologie C, pôle de neurologie, hôpital Roger-Salengro, CHRU de Lille, 2, rue Emile-Laine, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
Berteloot
A-S
AS
Maurage
C-A
CA
Mackowiak-Cordoliani
M-A
MA
Pasquier
F
F
Bombois
S
S
D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult