Published online May 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i15.5025
Peer-review started: December 7, 2021
First decision: January 25, 2022
Revised: February 12, 2022
Accepted: March 26, 2022
Article in press: March 26, 2022
Published online: May 26, 2022
Processing time: 168 Days and 0.7 Hours
Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare congenital, nonhereditary neurocutaneous syndrome that mainly occurs in children; adult NCM is very rare. Due to its rarity, the clinical features and treatment strategies for NCM remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of NCM in adults. Most intracranial meningeal melanomas are solid masses, and cystic-solid malignant melanomas are very rare. Due to the lack of data, the cause of cystic changes and the effect on prognosis are unknown.
A 41-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with intermittent headache for 1 mo. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 4.7 cm × 3.6 cm cystic-solid mass in the left temporal lobe with peritumoral edema. The entire mass was removed, and postoperative pathology indicated malignant melanoma.
MRI is the first-choice imaging approach for diagnosing central nervous system diseases in NCM patients, although cerebrospinal fluid may also be used. At present, there is no optimal treatment plan; gross total resection combined with BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors might be the most beneficial treatment.
Core Tip: Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare congenital, nonhereditary neurocutaneous syndrome that mainly occurs in children, while adult NCM is very rare. Due to its rarity, clinical features and treatment strategies for NCM remain unclear. Herein, we report a case and review such reports and explore the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of NCM in adults.