Page 156 - Read Online

melanoma of the spinal cord most commonly involves Financial support and sponsorship
the thoracic spine, followed by the cervical spine, and the Nil.
lumbar region. The diagnosis requires exclusion of a
[2]
primary cutaneous or ocular lesion, as malignant melanoma, Conflicts of interest
although infrequently, can metastasize to the spinal cord. [3] There are no conflicts of interest.

The melanotic tumors of the CNS should be distinguished REFERENCES
from other pigmented CNS lesions, e.g., meningioma,
schawnnoma, pigmented astrocytoma, and gliomas. 1. Fuld AD, Speck ME, Harris BT, Simmons NE, Corless CL, Tsongalis
[4]
The diagnosis can be confirmed by histology and GJ, Pastel DA, Hartford AC, Ernstoff MS. Primary melanoma of
immunohistochemistry, as per Hayward’s criteria stating the spinal cord: a case report, molecular footprint, and review of the
literature. J Clin Oncol 2011;29:e499-502.
that “there should be no melanoma outside the CNS, and 2. Kim MS, Yoon do H, Shin DA. Primary spinal cord melanoma-case
the confirmation should be done by IHC. ” Melanocytic report. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2010;48:157-61.
[5]
tumors are positive for S-100, HMB45, and Melan-A. 3. Hayward RD. Malignant melanoma and the central nervous system:
A guide for classification based on the clinical findings. J Neurol
MRI of spinal cord melanoma shows characteristic features Neurosurg Psychiatry 1976;39:526-30.
such as high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and 4. Jaiswal S, Vij M, Tungria A, Jaiswal AK, Srivastava AK, Behari
equal or low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, S. Primary melanocytic tumours of the central nervous system: a
[6]
neuroradiological and clinicopathological study of five cases and
due to the paramagnetic properties of melanin or the brief review of literature. Neurol India 2011;59:413-9.
hemorrhagic elements in the tumor. Currently, there is 5. Chamberlain MC, Tredway TL. Adult primary intradural spinal cord
[6]
no standard treatment for primary malignant melanoma of tumors: a review. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2011;11:320-8.
the spinal cord. The treatment regimen is similar to that of 6. Farrokh D, Fransen P, Faverly D. MR findings of a primary
metastatic disease in the spinal cord, i.e., surgical resection intramedullary malignant melanoma: Case report and literature
followed by postoperative RT. Chemo- and immunotherapy 7. review. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2001;22:1864-6.
Yamasaki T, Kikuchi H, Yamashita J, Asato R, Fujita M. Primary
have no proven clinical effects. Differentiation between spinal intramedullary malignant melanoma: case report. Neurosurgery
[7]
primary and secondary CNS melanoma is important, 1989;25:117-21.
because primary CNS melanoma is associated with longer 8. Larson TC 3rd, Houser OW, Onofrio BM, Piegras DG. Primary
overall survival (OS). [8,9] OS in secondary CNS melanoma spinal melanoma. J Neurosurg 1987;66:47-9.
patients is less than one year, although complete surgical 9. Cetinalp NE, Yildirim AE, Divanlioglu D, Belen D. An uncommon

[1]
resection followed by postoperative RT does increases intramedullary tumor: primary spinal cord melanoma. Asian Spine J
2014;8:512-5.
OS in these patients. However, lack of conclusive data 10. Jeong DH, Lee CK, You NK, Kim SH, Cho KH. Primary spinal cord
[10]
renders the clinical outcome of spinal cord melanoma melanoma in thoracic spine with leptomeningeal dissemination and
unpredictable. [2] presenting hydrocephalus. Brain Tumor Res Treat 2013;1:116-20.

146
Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment ¦ Volume 2 ¦ April 15, 2016 ¦