Summary
Epidermoid cysts are tumours, which contain keratin, cellular debris and cholesterol, and lined with stratified squamous epithelium. Clinically, epidermoid cysts behave like benign, slow-growing lesions. We present a 63 year-old man with a 6-month history of right periorbital pain and hypaesthesia in the area of the first and second branch of the trigeminal nerve. MRI revealed an epidermoid cyst of the cerebellopontine angle extending into the middle and anterior cranial fossae. Radical surgical removal of epidermoid cysts should be attempted, but a less aggressive surgical strategy should be considered if there is strong adherence to the surrounding brain tissue, particularly in eloquent areas. In this case, complete tumour removal was achieved via a suboccipital retrosigmoid approach.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
M Bergui J Zhong GB Bradac S Sales (2001) ArticleTitleDiffusion-weighted images of intracranial cyst-like lesions Neuroradiology 43 IssueID10 824–829 Occurrence Handle11688697 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002340100595 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mnjs1Sqtg%3D%3D
M Caldarelli L Massimi C Kondageski C Di Rocco (2004) ArticleTitleIntracranial midline dermoid and epidermoid cyst in children J Neurosurg 100 473–480 Occurrence Handle15287458
EA David JM Chen (2003) ArticleTitlePosterior fossa epidermoid cyst Otol Neurotol 24 IssueID4 699–700 Occurrence Handle12851568 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00129492-200307000-00028
A Doll M Abu Eid P Kehrli P Esposito C Gillis A Bogorin C Jacques JL Dietemann (2000) ArticleTitleAspects of FLAIR sequences, 3D-CISS and diffusion-weight MR imaging of intracranial epidermoid cysts J Neuroradiol 27 IssueID2 101–106 Occurrence Handle10970961 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FmslOlsQ%3D%3D
SN Dutt S Mirza SV Chavda RM Irving (2002) ArticleTitleRadiologic differentiation of intracranial epidermoids from arachnoid cysts Otol Neurotol 23 IssueID1 84–92 Occurrence Handle11773853 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00129492-200201000-00019
MS Greenberg (2006) Epidermoid and dermoid tumours EditionNumber6 SeriesTitleHandbook of neurosurgery Thieme Stuttgart 304–305
DG Johnson SJ Stemper TK Withers (2005) ArticleTitleRuptured “giant” supratentorial dermoid cyst J Clin Neurosci 12 IssueID2 198–201 Occurrence Handle15749433 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.jocn.2004.03.035 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M7hvFSrug%3D%3D
P Liu Y Saida H Yoshioka Y Itai (2003) ArticleTitleMR imaging of epidermoids at the cerebellopontine angle Magn Reson Med Sci 2 IssueID3 109–115 Occurrence Handle16222102 Occurrence Handle10.2463/mrms.2.109
S Miyake N Kobayashi N Murai T Kondoh E Kohmura (2005) ArticleTitleAcquired lumbar epidermoid cyst in an adult Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 45 IssueID5 277–279 Occurrence Handle10.2176/nmc.45.277
M Samii ML Cheatham DP Becker (Eds) (1995) Atlas of cranial base surgery: UCLA and Hannover experience WB Saunders Philadelphia
M Samii W Draf (1989) Surgery of the skull base SeriesTitleAn interdisciplinary approach Springer Berlin 340–342
AS Shaw SE Connor (2005) ArticleTitleParasellar epidermoid cyst rupturing into the nasopharynx J Laryngol Otol 119 IssueID2 140–143 Occurrence Handle15829069 Occurrence Handle10.1258/0022215053419934 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M7psF2quw%3D%3D
S Sirin E Gonul S Kahraman E Timurkaynak (2005) ArticleTitleImaging of posterior fossa epidermoid tumours Clin Neurol Neurosurg 107 IssueID6 461–467 Occurrence Handle16202818 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.clineuro.2004.11.007
N Sudhakar GC Stephenson (2004) ArticleTitleSwelling on the head – a forgotten lesson: a case report of an intradiploic epidermal cyst with an iatrogenic complication Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 42 IssueID2 155–157 Occurrence Handle15013549 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0266-4356(03)00264-X Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2c7it1Wkuw%3D%3D
K Yamakawa N Shitara S Genka S Manaka K Takakura (1989) ArticleTitleClinical course and surgical prognosis of 33 cases of intracranial epidermoid tumours Neurosurgery 24 IssueID4 568–573 Occurrence Handle2710302 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00006123-198904000-00013 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaB3MbltlY%3D
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Akhavan-Sigari, R., Bellinzona, M., Becker, H. et al. Epidermoid cysts of the cerebellopontine angle with extension into the middle and anterior cranial fossae: surgical strategy and review of the literature. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 149, 429–432 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-007-1117-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-007-1117-1