title: Multiple melanocytoma of the thoracic spine: a case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary melanocytic neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare tumors, and multiple localized melanocytoma are even rarer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to report an unusual case of multiple melanocytoma of the thoracic spine and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of primary CNS melanocytoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a clinical case report and review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chart review and analysis of the relevant literature were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 60-year-old man presented at our neurosurgery department with progressive truncal numbness spanning 3 months. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine revealed two intradural extramedullary masses at T1 and T3-T4, respectively. Gross total resection of the lesions was performed. Postoperative positron emission tomography-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no residual tumor or recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report a case of multiple primary spinal cord melanocytoma at the T1 and T3-T4 levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin St, Changchun 130021, Jilin, China. Electronic address: wangyubowyb@163.com.
authors.forename: Yu-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 126 Xiantai St, Changchun 130033, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin St, Changchun 130021, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin St, Changchun 130021, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin St, Changchun 130021, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin St, Changchun 130021, Jilin, China. Electronic address: xianfeng_zhangjl@163.com.
authors.forename: Xian-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Central nervous system; Melanocytoma; Melanoma; Spinal cord; Thoracic spine; Tumor