title: Primary Melanotic Schwannoma with Typical Histology.
abstract: We present a case of a 17-year male with a soft tissue density spreading from the neural foramina (T3) of the spinal cord and involving the right upper thoracic cavity. We managed the patient through surgical intervention and resected the complete tumor. Gross definition and microscopic findings of the resected tissue revealed the definitive diagnosis of melanotic schwannoma. The histological characteristics in this case were very specific and harbour an important diagnostic clue for this rare disease. Malignant melanoma was ruled out on the basis of histological findings. The patient recovered completely and was healthy on one-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Usman B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Fazal Wahab
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Benish
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pathology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Muhammad Usman
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Saulat H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Fatimi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017600:Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery*; D013355:Subdural Space / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013908:Thoracotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome