Pigmented (melanotic) schwannomas of the spinal canal

Primary pigmented neoplasms of the nervous system are rare tumors. The literature suggests that they behave aggressively and carry a guarded prognosis. We present 2 patients with pigmented schwannomas of spinal nerves who following therapy are alive, functioning and without evidence of tumor 14 and 17 years later. We wish to emphasize that the presence of melanin alone does not equate with a malignant course. The literature is reviewed and theories of histogenesis for these unusual lesions are discussed.