melanocytic lesions of the central nervous system

melanocytic lesions of the central nervous system

A number of pathological entities affecting the central nervous system contain melanin. They can be divided into primary and secondary melanocytic lesions.

Primary

Primary melanocytic lesions arise from melanin-containing neural crest cells which are located in the leptomeninges.  They include :

• diffuse melanosis (seen in neurocutaneous melanosis)
  • meningeal melanocytosis
  • meningeal melanomatosis
• melanocytoma
• primary meningeal malignant melanoma

In addition to these primary lesions which arise from melanin-containing cells, a number of other tumors of the CNS can rarely contain melanin. These include :

• melanotic meningioma
• melanotic schwannoma
• melanotic medulloblastoma
• melanotic differentiation of low-grade gliomas
• craniopharyngiomas may rarely contain melanin
• melanotic differentiation of a gliosarcoma (single case report )

Secondary

Secondary melanocytic lesions are far more common and represent metastatic malignant melanoma.

Siehe auch:

• Malignes Melanom Metastase