Published online Jun 6, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i16.2904
Revised: April 8, 2024
Accepted: April 19, 2024
Published online: June 6, 2024
Processing time: 104 Days and 21.1 Hours
Primary intraspinal malignant melanoma is a very rare tumor that most often occurs in the cervical, thoracic, or thoracolumbar segment.
A rare case of primary thoracolumbar malignant melanoma is described. A 45-year-old female patient complained of low back pain with numbness and fatigue in both lower limbs. MR revealed an intradural space-occupying lesion at the thoracic 12 to lumbar 1 level. The tumor was partially excised, and a malignant melanoma was confirmed by histopathology.
Primary intraspinal malignant melanoma has rarely been reported, and surgical resection and related characteristics and diagnoses have been discussed.
Core Tip: Primary intraspinal malignant melanoma is an exceedingly rare tumor, with limited documentation in the existing literature. This manuscript presents a detailed analysis of the case and imaging characteristics of a patient diagnosed with primary thoracolumbar malignant melanoma, who underwent partial tumor resection. The excised tumor was subjected to pathological examination, and the patient was subsequently followed up for one year post-surgery. Furthermore, this study delves into the pertinent characteristics and diagnostic considerations associated with malignant melanoma.