Primary Intracranial Melanoma: Report of Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Primary intracranial melanoma is uncommon and accounts for only approximately 1% of all cases of melanoma. This is interesting to neuro-oncologists and neurosurgeons because the clinical and radiological patterns of these tumors can mimic the presence of meningioma. In Spite of their malignant behavior, they can be satisfactorily treated. We describe a 66-year-old woman with traumatic subdural hematoma and an extra-axial tumor mass over the right occipital region. She had no extracranial abnormalities. The patient received total extirpation of the lesion microscopically, followed by radiotherapy. The pathologic review revealed a deep pigmented and hemorrhagic malignant melanoma. It has been demonstrated that surgical excision of intracranial melanoma is the most effective procedure, allowing for a long-term disease-free period postoperatively.