Melanocytic schwannoma in the spinal canal

A case of melanocytic schwannoma, a rare form of schwannian neoplasm, in the thoracolumbar spinal canal of a 52-year-old man is presented. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of irregularly interlacing spindle-shaped cells showing cystic degeneration, with occasional pigmented tumor cells. The tumor cells showed a low degree of nuclear pleomorphism without any mitotic figures. These histological features were considered to be consistent with a benign schwannian tumor showing pigmentation. Most of the pigments were considered to be melanin histochemically and immunohistochemically. According to the pathological features of the present tumor and those described previously in the literature, the neoplastic Schwann cells were assumed to have melanogenetic capacity, and the concept of the common neural crest origin of Schwann cells and melanocytes appeared to be demonstrated in the present tumor.