Primary sellar melanocytoma: pathological, clinical and treatment review

Background Sellar melanocytomas represent a small subgroup of primary melanocytic tumors. They arise from melanocytes located in the meningeal lining of the sellar floor or in the diaphragma sellae and this location is very uncommon. Usually, sellar melanocytomas are benign and slow-growing tumors w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of endocrinological investigation 2020-05, Vol.43 (5), p.575-585
Main Authors: Albano, L., Losa, M., Barzaghi, L. R., Spatola, G., Panni, P., Terreni, M. R., Mortini, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case reports
Chemotherapy
Diagnosis
Endocrinology
Humans
Internal Medicine
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Melanocytes
Melanocytes - pathology
Metabolic Diseases
Pituitary Gland - pathology
Pituitary Gland - surgery
Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology
Pituitary Neoplasms - surgery
Radiation therapy
Short Review
Surgery
Tumors
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Summary:Background Sellar melanocytomas represent a small subgroup of primary melanocytic tumors. They arise from melanocytes located in the meningeal lining of the sellar floor or in the diaphragma sellae and this location is very uncommon. Usually, sellar melanocytomas are benign and slow-growing tumors with a high likelihood of recurrence. Purpose To our knowledge, due to the rarity of this condition, there are no guidelines regarding their diagnosis and treatment in the medical literature to date. We have developed a narrative review, analyzing the available studies regarding primary sellar melanocytomas reported in the medical literature. We have found ten papers on this topic and all of them are case reports. In all patients, tumor diagnosis was performed after the occurrence of neurological symptoms, in particular progressive visual loss or endocrinological disorders. The diagnosis is difficult, and it requires several preoperative and postoperative investigations, but histological examination is crucial. Conclusions Transsphenoidal surgery is the first-choice treatment. In case of tumor’s recurrence or regrowth, the role of radiation therapy and chemotherapy is not entirely clear.
ISSN:1720-8386
0391-4097
1720-8386
DOI:10.1007/s40618-019-01158-8