Multifocal primary melanoma of the cervical spinal cord successfully treated by tumorectomy: a case report

Introduction Multifocal primary melanoma of the spine is extremely rare. Here, we report a case of multifocal primary melanoma of the cervical spinal cord. Case presentation A 39-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of numbness of the upper extremities and back. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine suggested multifocal intradural extramedullary tumors at levels C2 and C4–C5. A diagnostic biopsy revealed a pathological diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Tumorectomy was then performed. The numbness in the patient’s upper extremities improved, and he was discharged. As of 2 years after surgery, no signs of local or systemic recurrence have been noted. Discussion Primary melanoma of the spinal cord usually carries a poor prognosis. However, in this case, the outcome following tumorectomy has been highly favorable. We speculate that this is because the MIB-1 labeling index of the tumors was less than 1%.