Melanotic meningioma
Updates to Article Attributes
Melanotic meningioma(also known as meningeal melanocytoma) is a rare histological variant of WHO grade I (benign) meningioma.
Epidemiology
Content pending
Pathology
Melanotic meningiomas arise from leptomeningeal melanocytes, a small pigment cells found mostly in the meninges covering the ventrolateral surfaces of the medulla oblongata, posterior fossa or Meckel’s cave 1, 2.
Radiographic features
Given the small number of reported cases it is difficult to determine the most characteristic appearance.
CT
most commonly isodense to grey matter, with variable enhancement 2.
MRI
Different signal intensities are probably correlated with the amount of melanin in the pigment cells. Possible causes of low signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences include decreased water content, paramagnetism, susceptibility effects or possible hemorrhage 5.
- T1: iso- or hiperintense 1,4
- T2: hipo- or hiperintense
- T1 C+: homogenous enhancement
Treatment
Similarly to other meningiomas the treatment is usually surgical excision, with complete tumor removal being the best therapeutic option (in terms of disease-free survival) 3.
-<p><strong>Melanotic meningioma</strong> is a rare histological variant of WHO grade I (benign) meningioma. </p><p><em>Content pending</em></p>- +<p><strong>Melanotic meningioma </strong>(also known as<strong> meningeal melanocytoma</strong>) is a rare histological variant of WHO grade I (benign) meningioma. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Only several dozen of cases have been reported. Because of that no significant prevalence difference was found between gender or age group.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Melanotic meningiomas arise from leptomeningeal melanocytes, a small pigment cells found mostly in the meninges covering the ventrolateral surfaces of the medulla oblongata, posterior fossa or Meckel’s cave <sup>1, 2</sup>.</p><h4><strong>Radiographic features</strong></h4><p>Given the small number of reported cases it is difficult to determine the most characteristic appearance.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>most commonly isodense to grey matter, with variable enhancement <sup>2</sup>.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>Different signal intensities are probably correlated with the amount of melanin in the pigment cells. Possible causes of low signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences include decreased water content, paramagnetism, susceptibility effects or possible hemorrhage <sup>5</sup>.</p><ul>
- +<li>T1: iso- or hiperintense<sup> 1,4</sup>
- +</li>
- +<li>T2: hipo- or hiperintense</li>
- +<li>T1 C+: homogenous enhancement</li>
- +</ul><h4>Treatment</h4><p>Similarly to other meningiomas the treatment is usually surgical excision, with complete tumor removal being the best therapeutic option (in terms of disease-free survival) <sup>3</sup>.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
References changed:
- 1. Czarnecki EJ, Silbergleit R, Gutierrez JA. MR of spinal meningeal melanocytoma. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1997;18 (1): 180-2. <a href="http://www.ajnr.org/content/18/1/180.abstract">AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (abstract)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9010539">Pubmed citation</a><span class="ref_v3"></span>
- 2. Goldgeier, M. H., Klein, L. E., Klein-Angerer, S., Moellmann, G., & Nordlund, J. J. (1984). The distribution of melanocytes in the leptomeninges of the human brain. Journal of investigative dermatology, 82(3), 235-238.<a href="http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v82/n3/pdf/5614914a.pdf">
- 3. Rades D, Heidenreich F, Tatagiba M et-al. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2001;95 (2): . <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3171/spi.2001.95.2.0225">doi:10.3171/spi.2001.95.2.0225</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 5. Pomeranz, S.J. (1988). Craniospinal magnetic resonance imaging. United States: WB Saunders CBS Educ and Professional Publ.
- 4. Uematsu Y, Yukawa S, Yokote H et-al. Meningeal melanocytoma: magnetic resonance imaging characteristics and pathological features. Case report. J. Neurosurg. 1992;76 (4): 705-9. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3171/jns.1992.76.4.0705">doi:10.3171/jns.1992.76.4.0705</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1545267">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
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