title: [Primary intramedullary melanoma: Case report and literature review].
abstract: A dark pigmented intramedullary mass is very rarely encountered in daily practice, and poses a diagnostic challenge. Several entities have to be considered, including melanin-containing tumours (melanotic ependymoma and melanotic schwannoma) and melanocyte-containing tumours (melanocytoma, primary melanoma and melanoma metastases). The case is presented of a 47 year-old male with a pigmented intramedullary tumour located at T7-T8 level. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) revealed a tumour with hyperintensity on T1 and hypointensity on T2. The tumour was resected partially and treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. The diagnosis of primary intramedullary melanoma (PIM) was established based on histology and the absence of other lesions outside of the CNS. A literature review is presented on the other 26 PIM cases reported. PIM are extremely rare tumours, but are the most frequent cause of pigmented intramedullary tumour. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice whenever possible, followed by radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, España. Electronic address: alejanm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yislenz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Narváez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Patología, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, España.
authors.forename: Napoleón
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de la Ossa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Patología, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, España.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Martos
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, España.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cohn-Reinoso
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, España.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellví-Juan
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, España.
authors.forename: Secundino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin-Ferrer
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Intramedullary melanoma; Melanoma intramedular; Melanoma metastases; Melanoma metastásico; Pigmented tumour; Spinal cord tumour; Thoracic tumour; Tumor espinal; Tumor pigmentado; Tumor torácico