Skip to main content
Log in

Posterior fossa dermoid cyst associated with dermal fistula: report of 2 cases and review of the literature

  • Case Reports
  • Published:
Child's Nervous System Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two cases of dermoid cysts of the posterior fossa in association with a dermal fistula and with different clinical presentations are reported. The patient in case 1 is a 14-month-old girl with a history of recurrent bacterial meningitis. Case 2, a 7-year-old girl, presented with a skin “granuloma” at the inion. Both cases, and a review of the literature, demonstrate the need for a thorough exploration of the cranial and spinal midline skin areas in every newborn and argue for widespread use of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging whenever a suspected midline lesion is found.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Achard JM, Lallement PY, Veyssier P (1990) Recurrent aseptic meningitis secondary to intracranial epidermoid cyst and Mollaret's meningitis: two distinct entities or a single disease? A case report and a nosologic discussion. Am J Med 89:807–810

    Google Scholar 

  2. Becker MS, Wilson CB (1985) Epidermoid cysts of the posterior fossa. J Neurosurg 62:214–219

    Google Scholar 

  3. Crossley GH, Dismukes WE (1990) Central nervous system epidermoid cyst: a probable etiology of Mollaret's meningitis. Am J Med 89:805–806

    Google Scholar 

  4. De Chadarévian JP, Becker WJ (1980) Mollaret's recurrent meningitis: relationship to epidermoid cysts. Light microscopic and ultrastructural cytological studies of the cerebrospinal fluid. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 39:661–669

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ellner JJ, Bennett JE (1976) Chronic meningitis. Medicine 55:341–369

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gerlach J (1978) Dermal sinuses and dermoids. In: Vinken PJ, Bruyn GW (eds) Handbook of clinical neurology, vol 32: Congenital malformations of the spine and spinal cord. North-Holland, Amsterdam New York Oxford, pp 449–463

    Google Scholar 

  7. Guidetti B, Gagliardi FM (1977) Epidermoid and dermoid cysts. Clinical evaluation and late surgical results. J Neurosurg 47:12–18

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lepintre J, Labrune M (1970) Fistules dermiques congénitales communicant avec le système nerveux central: 21 cas opérés chez l'enfant. Neurochirurgie 16:335–348

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lesoin F, Blond S, Gozet G, Fortier S, Masingue M, Jomin M, Delandsheer JM (1980) Fistule dermique occipitale associée à un kyste dermoïde en fosse postérieure. Rev Otoneuroophtalmol 52:439–444

    Google Scholar 

  10. Logue V, Till K (1952) Posterior fossa dermoid cysts with special reference to intracranial infection. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 15:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  11. MacCarthy CS, Leavens ME, Love JG, Kernohan JW (1959) Dermoid and epidermoid tumors in the central nervous system of adults. Surg Gynecol Obstet 108:191–198

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mollaret P (1944) La méningite endothélio-leucocytaire multirecurrente bénigne. Syndrome nouveau ou maladie nouvelle? Documents cliniques. Rev Neurol 76:57–76

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mount LA (1949) Congenital dermal sinuses as a cause of meningitis, intraspinal abscess and intracranial abscess. JAMA 139:1263–1268

    Google Scholar 

  14. Roberts AP (1958) A case of intracranial dermoid cyst associated with the Klippel-Feil deformity and recurrent meningitis. Arch Dis Child 33:222–225

    Google Scholar 

  15. Schwartz JF, Balentine JD (1978) Recurrent meningitis due to an intracranial epidermoid. Neurology 28:124–129

    Google Scholar 

  16. Tan TI (1972) Epidermoids and dermoids of the central nervous system. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 26:13–24

    Google Scholar 

  17. Thieffry S, Lepintre J, Masselin S, Faure C (1958) Fistules dermiques congénitales communicant avec le système nerveux central. Sem Hop 34:1178–1182

    Google Scholar 

  18. Tytus JS, Pennybacker J (1956) Pearly tumours in relation to the central nervous system. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 19:241–259

    Google Scholar 

  19. Zülch KJ (1956) Biologie und Pathologie der Hirngeschwülste. In: Olivecrona H, Tönnis W (eds) Handbuch der Neurochirurgie, part 3. Springer, Wien New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goffin, J., Plets, C., Van Calenbergh, F. et al. Posterior fossa dermoid cyst associated with dermal fistula: report of 2 cases and review of the literature. Child's Nerv Syst 9, 179–181 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272273

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272273

Key words

Navigation