Primary melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system: Report of two cases and review of literature.
BACKGROUND
Primary melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) represent only 1% of all melanomas. We report two rare cases of primary diffuse leptomeningeal melanomatosis (PDLM; case 1) and primary melanoma of the thoraco-lumbar spine (case 2).


METHODS
In case 1, multiple cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies and a brain biopsy were non-diagnostic, with a biopsy of the cauda equina eventually demonstrating malignant melanomatosis. Diagnosis of primary spinal cord melanoma was more straightforward in case 2 with imaging and biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
PDLM and primary intramedullary spinal melanoma are rare variants of primary CNS melanoma. This report contrasts the diagnostic challenges between the two entities and alerts the neurosurgeon into considering the diagnosis with appropriate clinical presentation.
Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Victoria
V
Trinh
Department of Neuropathology, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA.
Rafael
R
Medina-Flores
Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Chirstopher L
CL
Taylor
Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Howard
H
Yonas
Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Muhammad O
MO
Chohan
CNS melanocytic tumors; diffuse leptomeningeal melanomatosis; primary CNS melanoma