Neurocutaneous Melanosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

This report concerns a case in which suicide by self-immolation occurred in an adolescent with neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM). A rare neurocutaneous syndrome, NCM has often been reported to occur concomitantly with psychiatric and neurologic disorders. While symptomatic disease is most often encountered in children, symptomatic disease at any age typically results in rapid morbidity and mortality. The gross and microscopic findings of NCM, the potential relevance of NCM to the case scenario, and a literature review of NCM will be presented. NCM may have a large influence on antemortem behavior and determination of cause of death, and for this reason it is important to be aware of its morphology and potential significance when encountered at autopsy.