Meningeal melanocytoma of the C8 nerve root: case report

A case of a meningeal melanocytoma involving the C8 nerve root is presented. The clinical symptoms and the radiological investigations resembled a neurinoma of the spinal nerve root. Intraoperatively the tumor was seen to be firmly attached to the dural covering of the dorsal nerve root. By using microsurgical technique, complete removal of the tumor with preservation of the ventral nerve root was accomplished. Histological examination revealed a typical meningeal melanocytoma as described by Limas and Tio in 1972. Ten additional cases of previously reported spinal meningeal melanocytomas are reviewed. The importance of differentiating this benign lesion from meningeal malignant pigmented tumors is stressed.