Spinal epidermoid cyst and cauda equina syndrome in a teenage girl

  • D. P. O’Brien
  • J. Singh
  • P. S. Dias
Article

Abstract

A sixteen year old girl presented with a four year history of hip pain followed subsequently by back pain radiating down her left leg, progressive urgency of micturition, urinary incontinence, a feeling of bladder fullness and incomplete bladder emptying, faecal impaction and finally, numbness in both of her buttocks. A diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome was suspected on the history and the clinical examination. A plain X-ray of her lumbar spine revealed evidence of a slow growing mass within the vertebral canal at the level of L3. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan confirmed an intradural space occupying lesion at the same level. This lesion was surgically removed and histological examination revealed a benign epidermoid cyst.

Keywords

Spina Bifida Dermoid Cyst Epidermoid Cyst Pilonidal Sinus Cauda Equina Syndrome 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

References

  1. 1.
    Toglia, J. U., Netsky, M. G., Alexander, E. Jr.. Epithelial (epidermoid) tumors of the cranium. Their common nature and pathogenesis. J. Neurosurg. 1965: 23, 384–393.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Takeuchi, J., Ohta, T., Kajikawa, H. Congenital Tumours of the Spinal Cord. In: Vinken, P. J. & Bruyn G. W. (eds.). Congenital Malformations of the Spine and Spinal Cord. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol. 32, 355–392, 1978.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Baxter, J. W., Netsky, M. G. Epidermoid and Dermoid Tumours: Pathology. In: Wilkins„ R. H. & Rengachary, S. S. Neurosurgery, vol. 1, 655–661, 1985.Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Tognetti, F.et al. Intracranial squamous cell carcinoma arising in remnant of extirpated epidermoid cyst. Br. J. Neursurg. 1991: 5, 303–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Lewis, A. J.et al. Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a suprasellar epidermoid cyst. Case Report. J. Neurosurg. 1983: 59, 538–541.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Abramson, R. C, Morawetz, R. B., Schutt, M. Multiple complications from an intracranial epidermoid cyst: case report and literature review. Neurosurgery 1989:24, 574–578.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Golodman, S. A., Gandy, S. E. Squamous cell carcinoma as a late complication of intracerebro-ventricular epidermoid cyst. Case Report. J. Neurosurg. 1987: 66, 618–620.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Guidetti, B, Gagliardi, F. M. Epidermoid and dermoid cysts. Clinical evaluation and late surgical results. J. Neurosurg. 1977: 47, 12–18.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    List, C. F. Intraspinal epidermoids, dermoids and dermal sinuses. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 1941: 73, 525–538.Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Lunardi, P.et al. Long-term results of the surgical treatment of spinal dermoid and epidermoid tumors. Neurosurg. 1989: 25, 6, 860–864.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Arseni, C.et al. Spinal dermoid tumours. Neurochirurgia 1977: 20, 108–116.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Manno, N. J., Uihlein, A., Kernohan, J. W. Intraspinal epidermoids. J. Neurosurg. 1962: 19, 754–765.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Bailey, J. C. Dermoid tumors of the spinal cord. J. Neurosurg. 1970: 33, 676–681.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Sachs, E. Jr., Horrax, G. A cervical and lumbar pilonidal sinus communicating with intraspinal dermoids. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature. J. Neurosurg. 1949: 6, 97–112.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Saunders, R. L. Intramedullary epidermoid cyst associated with a dermal sinus. Case Report. J. Neurosurg. 1969: 31, 83–86.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Shikata, J.et al. Intraspinal epidermoid and dermoid cysts: surgical results of seven cases. Arch. Orthop. Trauma Surg. 1988: 107, 105–109.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Martinez-Lage, J. F.et al. Epidermoid cyst occurring within a lumbosacral myelomeningocele. J. Neurosurg. 1983: 59, 1095–1097.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Pear, B. L. Epidermoid and dermoid sequestration cyst. AJR 1970: 1, 148–155.Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Donoghue, V.et al. Intraspinal epidermoid cysts. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr. 1984: 8, 143–144.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer 1992

Authors and Affiliations

  • D. P. O’Brien
    • 1
  • J. Singh
    • 1
  • P. S. Dias
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of NeurosurgeryBeaumont HospitalDublin 9

Personalised recommendations