title: [Primary malignant melanoma of the central nervous system: A diagnostic challenge].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rare incidence of primary malignant melanoma of the central nervous system and its ability to mimic other melanocytic tumors on images makes it a diagnostic challenge for the neurosurgeon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 51-year-old patient, with a tumor located in the right forniceal callosum area. Total surgical excision was performed. Histopathological result was consistent with the diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of the central nervous system, after ruling out extra cranial and extra spinal melanocytic lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The primary malignant melanoma of the central nervous system is extremely rare. There are features in magnetic resonance imaging that increase the diagnostic suspicion; nevertheless there are other tumors with more prevalence that share some of these features through image. Since there is not an established therapeutic standard its prognosis is discouraging.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Regional Valentín Gómez Farías ISSSTE, Zapopan, Jalisco, México. Electronic address: a_i_o_n@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quillo-Olvera
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Regional Valentín Gómez Farías ISSSTE, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: Juan Salvador
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Uribe-Olalde
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Regional Valentín Gómez Farías ISSSTE, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: Leopoldo Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Alcántara-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Regional Valentín Gómez Farías ISSSTE, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: Jorge Dax
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rejón-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Regional Valentín Gómez Farías ISSSTE, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: Héctor Guillermo
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Palomera-Gómez
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Central nervous system; Melanoma; Melanoma maligno primario; Primary malignant melanoma; Sistema nervioso central; Tumor