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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis
Published on: March 8, 2022
5-Aminolevulinic acid fluorescence-guided surgery for spinal cord melanoma metastasis: a technical note
Leonardo Gilmone Ruschel1, Ricardo Ramina2, Erasmo Barros da Silva2
1Neurosurgery Department, Neurological Institute of Curitiba (INC), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. leonardoruschel@yahoo.com.br.
Background:
According to our research, just few studies described 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) use for spinal injuries resection. 5-ALA is known to be especially useful in certain spinal tumor entities such as meningiomas, ependymomas, hemangiopericytomas, and metastasis of central nervous system primary tumors. In contrast, 5-ALA has limited value in other histopathological tumoral entities, as neurinomas and carcinoma metastasis.
Method:
We describe a microsurgical resection of a spinal cord melanoma through fluorescence-guided technique using 5-ALA in a 36-year-old man.
Results:
Strong 5-ALA tumor enhancement was evidenced, resulting in gross-total resection.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first case of nonglial intramedullary metastasis with 5-ALA positive staining. We believe that this tool, 5-ALA, could aid in the resection, identification, and differentiation of medullary metastasis.
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