Intracranial dermoid cysts: variations of radiological and clinical features

Ruptured Intracranial Dermoid Cyst: Unusually Rapid Disease Course Leading to a Fatal Outcome

“…Intracranial dermoid cysts comprise 0.04% -0.6 % of all intracranial tumors [3]. They derive from inclusion of ectodermally-committed cells at the time of neural groove closure in embryonic life, whereas teratomas contain tissues from all the primitive germ layers [5].…”

“…They derive from inclusion of ectodermally-committed cells at the time of neural groove closure in embryonic life, whereas teratomas contain tissues from all the primitive germ layers [5]. Dermoid cysts are composed of a thick fibrous capsule lined by stratified squamous epithelium enclosing a thick, viscous, greenish-brown fluid, a mix of lipids, cholesterol crystals, hairs, and decomposed epithelial cells [3,5]. They increase in size with accumulation of glandular secretions and desquamated cells from the lining epithelium.…”

“…Intracranial dermoid cysts are rare, non-neoplastic, congenital ectodermal inclusion cysts of embryological origin containing various ectodermal derivatives, including apocrine glands, sebaceous glands, hairs, squamous epithelium, and occasionally teeth [1][2][3][4][5]. Epidermoid cysts, in contrast, only have squamous epithelial lining.…”

“…Epidermoid cysts, in contrast, only have squamous epithelial lining. Intracranial dermoid cysts are commonly located in the suprasellar, frontobasal and temporobasal regions [1][2][3][4][5]. Spontaneous rupture of these cysts is uncommon, and so far, fewer than one hundred cases have been reported in the medical literature [1][2][3].…”

“…Intracranial dermoid cysts are commonly located in the suprasellar, frontobasal and temporobasal regions [1][2][3][4][5]. Spontaneous rupture of these cysts is uncommon, and so far, fewer than one hundred cases have been reported in the medical literature [1][2][3]. Ruptured intracranial dermoid cysts (RICDC) can present with headache (33%), seizures (26%), cerebral ischemia with focal deficit (16%), and aseptic meningitis (8%) [1][2][3][4][5].…”