Intracranial meningeal melanocytoma diagnosed using an interdisciplinary approach: a case report and review of the literature

Meningeal melanocytoma is a benign pigmented tumor of the central nervous system [1]. This tumor is so rare that its incidence has yet to be reported, and there are few reports on such tumors in the English language literature [2]. The posterior fossa is the most common site involved. To date, there are only three reports of this tumor arising in Meckel’s cave and detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) descriptions are available for only four patients. Here we report the MRI findings in a patient with primary intracranial meningeal melanocytoma (IMM) arising from Meckel’s cave.

A 39-year-old Japanese man presented with a 3-month history of numbness on the left side of his face. His symptoms had gradually progressed and had become painful in the month before the initial visit. He also complained that sometimes he could not chew on the left side. An examination revealed decreased sensation over the distribution of the left trigeminal nerve that did not respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants and was only slightly responsive to carbamazepine. His symptoms were associated with dyskinesia of the left masticatory muscles but there was no clicking sound. His facial expression was symmetrical at rest.

His past medical history was significant for acute gastritis, duodenal ulcer, and depression, for which brotizolam, flunitrazepam, and paroxetine had been prescribed, respectively. He was reticent and had difficulty communicating his feelings and wishes, which appeared to be related to his history of depression. Panoramic radiography revealed no specific findings relevant to his symptoms (Fig. 1a) but did identify slight restriction of movement of the temporomandibular joint on the left (Fig. 1b). MRI of the temporomandibular joint region was inconclusive for temporomandibular disorder and his symptoms were nonspecific for trigeminal neuralgia. Therefore, we extended the scanning range into the brain region and found a tumor measuring 10 mm in diameter and a homogeneously high signal intensity on axial T1-weighted images compared with gray matter (Fig. 2a) and low signal on axial T2-weighted images (Fig. 2b) in Meckel’s cave. The tumor appeared to be exerting pressure on his trigeminal nerve. He was referred to the neurosurgery department where unenhanced computed tomography (CT) images demonstrated a localized well-defined mass lesion in Meckel’s cave, which was homogeneously hyperdense compared with gray matter. No calcification was present (Fig. 3).

En bloc excision was subsequently performed. Immunohistochemistry was positive for melanocytic features of Melan A (MART1; melanoma antigen recognized by T cells-1), human melanoma black-45, vimentin, and S-100 protein and negative for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and glia fibrillary acidic protein (Fig. 4). Cellular proliferation was assessed by staining for Ki-67, which was positive, but the index was as low as 1–5%. These findings were associated with proliferation of tumor cells that contained abundant melanin pigment. Based on the above pathology results, a definitive diagnosis of melanocytoma was made.

Following excision of the intracranial tumor, our patient underwent adjuvant gamma knife radiosurgery with 24 Gy in two fractions to the tumor bed in the epidural space of the middle cranial fossa. No chemotherapy was administered. His postoperative course was uneventful with progressive resolution of the neurologic deficits. At follow-up 6.5 years later, he remains well with no signs of recurrence.

Our case highlights two notable aspects of IMM. First, it illustrates the importance of close collaboration between medical and dental professionals in such cases, in that it was not until a neurosurgery referral was made that a definitive diagnosis of IMM was made. Second, we provide detailed information regarding the appearance of this kind of tumor on MRI.

Including the case described here, 14 cases of IMM with detailed MRI descriptions are documented in the English literature (Table 1). However, our case of IMM is the first in which the initial presentation was to a dentist, which highlights the fact that a mass lesion in Meckel’s cave can mimic temporomandibular disorder by manifesting clinically as pain and malocclusion, leading the patient to visit a dentist first. Observed from one side only, the lesion was difficult to identify. Subsequent examination prompted further investigation to find the underlying cause. The final diagnosis of IMM was reached and satisfactorily managed only by collaboration between dental and medical practitioners.

The most prominent radiologic feature in this case was the pattern seen on MRI, namely, high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and low signal intensity on T2-weighted images compared with gray matter, which suggests melanoma or melanocytoma arising in the intracranial region. Eleven of the 14 IMM cases summarized in Table 1 showed the same MRI pattern of high signal on T1-weighted images and low signal on T2-weighted images [1‐10], and the others demonstrated a similar signal pattern [11‐13]. Knowledge of the characteristic imaging features of this infrequently encountered tumor, particularly the signal characteristics on MRI, can greatly assist in narrowing the differential diagnosis. The differential diagnosis is reported to include pigmented meningioma, melanotic schwannoma, and primary or secondary malignant melanoma [2]. Like meningioma, melanocytoma tends to be a solitary lesion, is often attached to the underlying dura, and may be locally invasive. IMM tends to occur in the posterior fossa and in the cerebellopontine angle, so may be difficult to differentiate from schwannoma [2]. Consistent with the reports by Hamasaki et al. [2] and Offiah and Laitt [3], our case showed homogeneous hyperdensity compared with gray matter on CT images.

The case presented here underscores two important clinical issues in the diagnosis and treatment of IMM, namely, the importance of collaboration between medical and dental practitioners and the distinctive pattern of signal intensities on MRI. An interdisciplinary approach should be considered when such cases are encountered.