Asian Spine J.  2014 Aug;8(4):512-515. 10.4184/asj.2014.8.4.512.

An Uncommon Intramedullary Tumor: Primary Spinal Cord Melanoma

• Cetinalp N
• Yildirim A
• Divanlioglu D
• Belen D

• KMID: 2270314
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2014.8.4.512

Abstract

A 47-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of progressive weakness in the lower extremities and pain in the back and left leg. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a spinal intramedullary tumor between the T9 and L1 levels, which were iso- to hypointense on T2 and slightly hyperintense on T1-weighted images. The tumor was resected as total, and the diagnosis was malignant melanoma confirmed with histopathology. Neurological findings improved at the postoperative period and no residual or recurrence was noted on postoperative MRI at the 9-month follow-up. Primary melanoma of the spinal cord, particularly intramedullar localization, is seldomly reported in the literature. We report a primary malignant melanoma of the spinal cord and emphasize the diagnostic and prognostic challenges.

Keyword

Spinal cord neoplasms; Intramedullary; Malignant melanoma

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Leg
Lower Extremity
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Melanoma*
Middle Aged
Postoperative Period
Recurrence
Spinal Cord Neoplasms
Spinal Cord*