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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
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
Becker MS, Wilson CB (1985) Epidermoid cysts of the posterior fossa. J Neurosurg 62:214–219
Crossley GH, Dismukes WE (1990) Central nervous system epidermoid cyst: a probable etiology of Mollaret's meningitis. Am J Med 89:805–806
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
Ellner JJ, Bennett JE (1976) Chronic meningitis. Medicine 55:341–369
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
Guidetti B, Gagliardi FM (1977) Epidermoid and dermoid cysts. Clinical evaluation and late surgical results. J Neurosurg 47:12–18
Lepintre J, Labrune M (1970) Fistules dermiques congénitales communicant avec le système nerveux central: 21 cas opérés chez l'enfant. Neurochirurgie 16:335–348
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
Logue V, Till K (1952) Posterior fossa dermoid cysts with special reference to intracranial infection. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 15:1–12
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
Mollaret P (1944) La méningite endothélio-leucocytaire multirecurrente bénigne. Syndrome nouveau ou maladie nouvelle? Documents cliniques. Rev Neurol 76:57–76
Mount LA (1949) Congenital dermal sinuses as a cause of meningitis, intraspinal abscess and intracranial abscess. JAMA 139:1263–1268
Roberts AP (1958) A case of intracranial dermoid cyst associated with the Klippel-Feil deformity and recurrent meningitis. Arch Dis Child 33:222–225
Schwartz JF, Balentine JD (1978) Recurrent meningitis due to an intracranial epidermoid. Neurology 28:124–129
Tan TI (1972) Epidermoids and dermoids of the central nervous system. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 26:13–24
Thieffry S, Lepintre J, Masselin S, Faure C (1958) Fistules dermiques congénitales communicant avec le système nerveux central. Sem Hop 34:1178–1182
Tytus JS, Pennybacker J (1956) Pearly tumours in relation to the central nervous system. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 19:241–259
Zülch KJ (1956) Biologie und Pathologie der Hirngeschwülste. In: Olivecrona H, Tönnis W (eds) Handbuch der Neurochirurgie, part 3. Springer, Wien New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights 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
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272273