Intramedullary melanotic schwannoma. Report of a case and review of the literature

A case of an intramedullary melanotic schwannoma located in the spinal cord at the TT2-T3 level is described. The lesion occurred in a 44-year-old wom an with a 10-year history of weakness and sensory numbness in both legs and feet. At operation the lesion appeared as a well-demarcated grey-brown int ramedullary mass. Histologically, it was composed of interlacing bundles of spindle cells showing their cytoplasm filled with melanin. Among spinal co rd neoplasms, melanotic schwannomas are rare tumours, which have apparently been reported only in three previous instances. The clinical, diagnostic a nd pathological features, as well as the possible aetiology of these rare t umours are discussed.