Sudden Death and Primary Leptomeningeal Melanocytosis: A Case Report With an Autopsy Diagnosis.
Meningeal melanocytoma is a rare benign pigmented tumor. It develops from melanocytes normally present in the meninges of the posterior fossa and medulla. It is an extra-axial tumor that manifests because of compression of adjacent structures. Although classified as a benign tumor, it can cause sudden death by several mechanisms. We report a rare case of meningeal melanocytoma and discuss the mechanism of death. A 21-year-old man with a previous history of recurrent lipothymia was admitted to the emergency department because of generalized seizures. Death occurred despite resuscitation. A medico-legal autopsy was performed. External examination of the body showed nonspecific asphyxia signs without any violence evidence. Necropsy noticed a brain edema with a dark color of the meninges especially in the frontal part. Histological examination concluded to diffuse meningeal melanocytoma with cerebral edema.
From the Departments of *Forensic Medicine and †Pathology, University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia.
Abir
A
Aissaoui
Mohamed Amin
MA
Mosrati
Adnen
A
Moussa
Meriam
M
Belhaj
Meriam
M
Bougattas
Abdelfatteh
A
Zakhama
Ali
A
Chadly
D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult