title: Diagnostic Clue of Meningeal Melanocytoma: Case Report and Review of Literature.
abstract: In this report, the patient was pre-diagnosed as meningioma before surgery, which turned out to be meningeal melanocytoma. Hence, we will discuss the interpretation of imaging and neurological statuses that may help avoid this problem. A 45-year-old man had increasing pain around the neck 14 months prior to admission. His cervical spine MR imaging revealed a space-occupying, contrast-enhancing mass within the dura at the level of C1. The neurologic examination revealed that the patient had left-sided lower extremity weakness of 4+, decreased sensation on the right side, and hyperreflexia in both legs. Department of Neuroradiology interpreted CT and MR imaging as meningiom. The patient underwent decompression and removal of the mass. We confirmed diagnosis as meningeal melanocytoma through pathologic findings. Afterwards, we reviewed the patient's imaging work-up, which showed typical findings of meningeal melanocytoma. However, it was mistaken as meningioma, since the disease is rare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Rho
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Mun
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. scrhim@amc.seoul.kr.
authors.forename: Seung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Rhim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Meningeal melanocytoma; melanoma; meningioma