Background: Primary spinal melanoma is extremely rare, accounting for ∼1% of all primary melanomas. Typically presenting insidiously in the thoracic spinal cord, primary spinal melanomas can have an acute presentation due to their propensity to hemorrhage.
Observations: Despite its rarity, primary spinal melanoma should be included in the differential diagnosis when a hemorrhagic pattern of T1 and T2 intensities is seen on magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, the complete diagnosis is crucial because the prognosis of a primary spinal melanoma is considerably more favorable than that of a primary cutaneous melanoma with metastatic spread.
Lessons: Resection is the treatment of choice, with some authors advocating for postoperative chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or radiation. We describe a case of acute quadriplegia from hemorrhagic primary spinal melanoma requiring resection.
Keywords: CNS = central nervous system; CT = computed tomography; ICU = intensive care unit; MRC = Medical Research Council; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; OR = operating room; PET = positron emission tomography; intradural tumor; spinal melanoma; spinal oncology.
© 2021 The authors.