Metastatic melanoma to the cerebellopontine angle. Clinical and imaging characteristics.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and imaging features of metastatic melanoma to the cerebellopontine angle (CPA).

DESIGN

A case series study with world literature review.

SETTING

House Ear Clinic and St Vincent's Hospital, Los Angeles, Calif.

PATIENTS

Three cases of metastatic CPA tumors operated on at the House Ear Clinic.

INTERVENTIONS

All patients underwent surgical removal of CPA metastatic melanoma.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Survival and duration of disease-free interval are reported.

RESULTS

Two patients died of melanoma within 5 months of diagnosis and resection of CPA melanoma metastases. One patient survived for 5 years after undergoing total resection of an isolated CPA melanoma metastasis. Magnetic resonance imaging features were not uniform.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastatic melanoma to the CPA should be suspected in patients with a history of melanoma and a rapid progression of audiovestibular or facial nerve symptoms. Surgical removal of solitary metastases to the CPA may be valuable in patients without other melanoma focus; however, the long-term prognosis for patients with CPA melanoma is grim.