Meningeal melanocytoma of the C8 nerve root: case report

Neurosurgery. 1992 Nov;31(5):958-61. doi: 10.1227/00006123-199211000-00023.

Abstract

A case of a meningeal melanocytoma involving the C8 nerve root is presented. The clinical symptoms and the radiological investigations resembled a neurinoma of the spinal nerve root. Intraoperatively the tumor was seen to be firmly attached to the dural covering of the dorsal nerve root. By using microsurgical technique, complete removal of the tumor with preservation of the ventral nerve root was accomplished. Histological examination revealed a typical meningeal melanocytoma as described by Limas and Tio in 1972. Ten additional cases of previously reported spinal meningeal melanocytomas are reviewed. The importance of differentiating this benign lesion from meningeal malignant pigmented tumors is stressed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / surgery*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / pathology
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / surgery
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / pathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Spinal Nerve Roots / pathology
  • Spinal Nerve Roots / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor