Melanocitoma meníngeo del ángulo pontocerebeloso: ¿Un tumor benigno?

How Should We Treat Meningeal Melanocytoma? A Retrospective Analysis of Potential Treatment Strategies

BACKGROUND

Meningeal melanocytomas (MM) are rare primary melanocytic tumors of the leptomeninges with an incidence of 1:10,000,000. Until now, there has been only sparse information about this tumor entity. Here, we provide a meta-analysis of all cases published in the English language since 1972.

METHODS

A literature review was performed using PubMed and Web of Science. All published cases were evaluated for location, sex, age, therapeutic approach, and outcome. In total, we included 201 patient cases in our meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The majority of MM was diagnosed more frequently in men between the third and fifth decade of life. Surgery is the preferred therapeutic approach, and total resection is associated with the best outcome. Patients with partial resection or tumor recurrence benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy, whereas chemo- or immunotherapies do not improve the disease course. Malignant transformation was described in 18 patients. Of these, 11 patients developed metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

We present the first retrospective meta-analysis of all MM cases published in the English language, including an evaluation of different treatment strategies allowing us to suggest a novel treatment guideline highlighting the importance of total resection for recurrence-free survival and characterizing those cases which benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy.

Intracranial meningeal melanocytomas: Clinico-radiological characteristics and outcomes. A Literature review

OBJECTIVES

Melanocytes are neural crest derivatives. Intracranial meningeal melanocytomas (MM) are rare tumors and the available literature is sparse for these neoplasms. This present review aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive literature review of these tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By searching online databases, literature review was performed to include and analyze all cases of cranial MM reported till date. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for the review process.

RESULTS

A total of 109 cases were analyzed. Male:female ratio was 1.2:1. The mean age was 40.3 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 23.9 months (range 2days-15 years). Cerebellopontine (CP) angle, suprasellar and Meckel cave were the most common locations. Sixty-four cases (58%) underwent GTR. Twenty-eight patients (26%) received some form of adjuvant radiation. There were 29(26%) recurrences and mean time to recurrence was 50.2 months. The recurrence rates (RR) for GTR and STR were 20% and 42% respectively. Extent of resection (STR) and tumor locations (CP angle and Meckel cave) were significantly associated with higher RR. Six (6.5%) cases had higher-grade transformations.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete surgical resection is the ideal treatment and adjuvant radiation is to be considered for residual/recurrent tumors. Adjuvant radiotherapy may also be prescribed despite GTR, in locations with higher RR such as CP angle and Meckel's cave. Because of higher-grade transformations and delayed recurrences, long-term follow-up is required.

Primary Meningeal Melanocytoma in the Left Temporal Lobe Associated with Nevus Ota: a Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Primary melanocytic neoplasms of the central nervous system are rare lesions arising from melanocytes of the leptomeninge that are found at highest density underneath the brain stem and along the upper cervical spinal cord. Thus most reported cases of meningeal melanocytomas are located in the posterior fossa and the spinal cord, and presentation of a supratentorial tumor is rare.

METHODS

A 19-year-old man presented with a headache and seizure at our department. Neurological examinations were otherwise normal. On physical examination he had asymptomatic, bluish, speckled, and well-demarcated hyperpigmented macules on the left midface extraorally. A left temporal space-occupying lesion was seen on magnetic resonance imaging. The mass was hyperintense on T1-weighted images and isointense on T2-weighted images. Enhancement was shown on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The preoperative diagnosis was meningioma.

RESULT

Gross complete resection was performed. Pathological studies led to the diagnosis of meningeal melanocytoma World Health Organization (WHO) grade I. The patient received oncologic consultation. Because total resection of the tumor was achieved and its histopathologic grade was benign (WHO grade I), radiotherapy was not advised for the patient and he followed up every 6 months. No tumor was seen on follow-up MRI one year after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Presentation of meningeal melanocytoma in the supratentorial compartment is rare, and its combination with nevus Ota has been reported in very few cases. Although this lesion is benign, it might behave aggressively. Complete surgical resection of the lesion is the preferred therapeutic option.