title: Primary thoracic epidural melanoma : a case report.
abstract: A 68-year-old woman with progressive paraparesis and altered sensation lasting approximately five days was admitted to our clinic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an advanced stage T7-8 epidural mass ventral to the spinal cord, which was believed to be a metastatic tumor considering the patient's age. A highly enhanced epidural mass and pedicle appeared during the MR scan. However, the pathologic findings were compatible with the diagnosis of a primary meningeal melanocytic tumor. Primary epidural melanomas are extremely rare lesions. This case was finally diagnosed as a primary thoracic spinal epidural melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Seong-Rim
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Don
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ik-Seong
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Park