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Epidermoid Cyst

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Skull Base Surgery of the Posterior Fossa

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Abstract

Epidermoid cysts are generally congenital dysjunction and entrapment of the ectoderm before neural tube closure. Management of small, asymptomatic epidermoid cysts can often be conservative, but surgical removal is indicated for larger or symptomatic epidermoid cysts with significant mass effect on the brainstem. The goal of surgical resection for these lesions should be maximum safe resection via a standard midline suboccipital craniotomy, a standard retrosigmoid approach, a combined retrosigmoid and subtemporal transtentorial approach, or an extended retrosigmoid transtentorial approach. In this chapter, we discuss the clinical presentation, imaging, surgical approach, complication avoidance, and outcomes for patients with posterior fossa epidermoid cysts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, 175 N. Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Gmaan Alzhrani MD & William T. Couldwell MD, PhD

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  1. Gmaan Alzhrani MD
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  2. William T. Couldwell MD, PhD
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Correspondence to William T. Couldwell MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

    William T. Couldwell

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Alzhrani, G., Couldwell, W.T. (2018). Epidermoid Cyst. In: Couldwell, W. (eds) Skull Base Surgery of the Posterior Fossa . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67038-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67038-6_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-67037-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-67038-6

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