A rare case of intramedullary spinal dermoid cyst in adult: A case report

Contiguous diastematomyelia with tethered cord, intradural extramedullary dermoid tumor, and lipomyelomeningocele: A unique case of spinal dysraphism

Diastematomyelia, tethered cord, intradural extramedullary dermoid tumor and lipomyelomeningocele such disease entities themselves are rare in their own form and concurrent presentation of all those pathological states in a single individual can be considered one of the rarest forms of spinal dysraphism globally. Moreover for prompt management with optimal prognosis needs refined neurosurgical intervention guided by intraoperative neuromonitoring so as to bring about the best quality of life in the patient.

Intradural intramedullary dermoid cyst in a 42-year-old man at the L1-L2 region

Background

Intramedullary dermoid cysts within the spine are a rare benign tumor. We present this case, which has atypical presenting symptoms, in order to increase awareness of intradural dermoid cysts.

Clinical presentation

We present here a case of a 42 year old man with a 12-month history of lumbar spinal pain as well progressive left lower extremity loss of strength, as well as numbness and paresthesia radiating into the left foot. Magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a 4 × 1 × 1.3cm intradural mass at the cauda equina L1-L2 region and was hyperintense in both T1 and T2 causing cord compression. L1-L2 laminectomy and intradural micro resection were performed with successful excision of the suspicious mass. Histopathological review revealed keratinaceous debris and adnexal structures consistent with a dermoid cyst.

Conclusions

Our case is unusual with the other reported cases of dermoid cysts due to superior involvement in the lumbar region compared to other case reports with predominantly lumbosacral involvement. This location of the cyst lead to radicular symptoms, rather than lumbosacral pain and sphincter incompetence that is more commonly represented in the literature

Traumatic sacral dermoid cyst rupture with intracranial subarachnoid seeding of lipid particles: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Intracranial deposits of fat droplets are an unusual presentation of a spinal dermoid cyst after spontaneous rupture and are even more uncommon after trauma. Here, the authors present a case with this rare clinical presentation, along with a systematic review of the literature to guide decision making in these patients.

OBSERVATIONS

A 54-year-old woman with Lynch syndrome presented with severe headache and sacrococcygeal pain after a traumatic fall. Computed tomography of the head revealed multifocal intraventricular and intracisternal fat deposits, which were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neuroaxis; in addition, a ruptured multiloculated cyst was identified within the sacral canal with proteinaceous/hemorrhagic debris, most consistent with a sacral dermoid cyst with rupture into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space. An unruptured sacral cyst was later noted on numerous previous MRI scans. In our systematic review, we identified 20 similar cases, most of which favored surgical treatment.

LESSONS

Rupture of an intraspinal dermoid cyst must be considered when intracranial fat deposits are found in the context of cauda equina syndrome, meningism, or hydrocephalus. Complete tumor removal with close postoperative follow-up is recommended to decrease the risk of complications. CSF diversion must be prioritized if life-threatening hydrocephalus is present.

Long segment spinal intramedullary dermoid cyst: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Spinal intramedullary dermoid is very rare, accounting for <1% of intraspinal tumors. It can be congenital or acquired. They usually present in 2nd or 3rd decade of life in adults. It may or may not associated with spinal dysraphism. It is asymptomatic in most cases, manifest acutely if it ruptures. Long segment involvement of spinal intramedullary tumor in adult without the history of trauma makes this case unique. Fat suppression imaging helps to distinguish adipose tissue from lesions causing hematomyelia in patients presented with intramedullary hyperintensity in both T1 & T2 sequences of MRI spine.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report here a rare case of 30 years old male who presented to us with sudden urinary retention followed by rapidly progressive quadriparesis and paresthesia in his right arm. In MRI, spinal intramedullary tumor was noted from medulla till D5 vertebra. We performed subtotal excision of tumor and sample sent for histopathology which proved it to be intramedullary spinal dermoid cyst.

CONCLUSION

Long segment involvement of spinal intramedullary dermoid cyst in adult without history of trauma makes this case different. Fat suppression imaging must be done in patients with intramedullary hyperintensity in both T1 and T2 sequences of MRI spine. Early diagnosis and appropriate management will be helpful in reducing morbidity.