Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery (Dec 2021)
Intracranial malignant melanoma: An egyptian institute experience
Abstract
Background: Malignant melanoma is a rare tumor of the central nervous system. It may be primary or secondary which is known as metastatic melanoma. It is a highly malignant lesion with a very poor prognosis. Methods: A retrospective study of seven cases with an established diagnosis of intracranial malignant melanoma, from January 2005 to September 2019. All cases were managed in the department of neurosurgery at our university hospital. In addition to prognosis, patient data including clinical, radiological, and pathological features were analyzed. Results: All reported cases were operated as follows: gross total resection (GTR)in 3 patients and subtotal resection (STR) in four patients. Of the 7 cases studied, six patients showed improvement in their neurological status while only one maintained the same clinical picture until discharge. None of our cases showed postoperative neurological deterioration. However, they all underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). The follow-up duration was 24–84 months (median = 36 months). Three cases died due to disease progression during the follow-up period, while only four patients showed tumor recurrence which required a second surgery. Conclusion: Microsurgical resection followed by adjuvant RT should be considered as the first-line management of intracranial malignant melanoma. Other advanced therapies need to be explored in the future for better postoperative results and prolonged survival.
