Diagnosis and treatment for primary intracranial melanoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical features, imaging findings and treatment for primary intracranial melanoma. Method The clinical data including presentation, imaging, treatment and prognosis of 8 patients with primary intracranial melanoma underwent surgery were reviewed during the past ten years. The patients included six males and two females and the age range was from 24 to 68 years. Four lesions were located in frontal lobe and the other four were located in parietal lobe, Occipital lobe, parafalcine and cerebellopontine angle respectively. Total removal was achieved in 6 patients and subtotal resection in 2 who had adjuvant radiosurgery. Results Histological examination showed that all cases were melanoma. Follow - up study was gained in seven cases and the follow - up duration was from 10 to 82 months. Two patients died from recurrence at postoperative 14th months and 21st months respectively. One case had tumor recurrence 6 months after surgery and another operation was performed to gain total removal. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed and there was no recurrence found in MRI 6 months after the surgery. One patient had tumor recurrence 9 months after surgery and another operation was performed to gain total removal. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed and follow - up MRI showed recurrence 6 months after surgery. There was no recurrence in the other 3 cases. Conclusions Primary intracranial melanoma is an extremely rare tumor and difficult to get correct preoperative diagnosis. Surgical removal of tumor plays an important role in its treatment. Part of patients could gain profits from radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis is very poor. Key words: Melanoma; Central nervous system neoplasms; Diagnosis; Therapy