An Unusual Case of Malignant Melanoma with Metastasis to the Placenta During Pregnancy
  • Kenny Garcia-Ramiu
    Internal Medicine Residency Program, Norton Community Hospital, Norton, Virginia, USA
  • Ibrahim Mohsin
    Internal Medicine Residency Program, Norton Community Hospital, Norton, Virginia, USA
  • Alexandra Ikeguchi
    Department of Hematology/Oncology, Oklahoma University Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
  • Brian Newberry
    Internal Medicine Residency Program, Norton Community Hospital, Norton, Virginia, USA

Keywords

Melanoma, metastasis, placenta

Abstract

Introduction: We describe an unusual case of metastatic melanoma of the brain with an unknown primary site during pregnancy.
Case Description: A 35-year-old woman in the third trimester of pregnancy presented with ataxia, nausea, vomiting, headaches and diplopia. CT of the brain revealed a hyper-attenuating 2.1 cm mass in the fourth ventricle with mild obstructive hydrocephalus. A healthy newborn was delivered by urgent caesarean section. Craniotomy and resection of the brain lesion confirmed melanoma. Pathology of the placenta reported a ‘focal nest of melanocytes identified in intervillous space’.
Discussion: Brain and maternal placenta pathology findings were consistent with melanoma, making this case relevant because of the possibility of metastatic melanoma in a fetus.
Conclusion: Epidemiological data on congenital and infantile melanoma are scarce. Also, there is no database for long-term follow-up of children born to pregnant mothers with metastatic melanoma. Delayed presentation of melanoma in the child cannot be ruled out.

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    Published: 2022-09-29
    Issue: 2022: Vol 9 No 9 (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Garcia-Ramiu K, Mohsin I, Ikeguchi A, Newberry B. An Unusual Case of Malignant Melanoma with Metastasis to the Placenta During Pregnancy. EJCRIM 2022;9 doi:10.12890/2022_003490.