Traumatic Rupture of a Skull Base Dermoid Cyst Mimicking Chronic Meningitis

Abstract

Cranial dermoid cysts are rare, embryologic tumors containing fat, hair, and other ectodermal elements. They occur most frequently in the posterior fossa and are typically diagnosed as incidental findings on brain imaging done for an unrelated reason. Traumatic rupture of a previously unidentified intracranial dermoid cyst can mimic symptoms of post-concussion syndrome and should be ruled out with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgical intervention after traumatic rupture may not result in complete symptom control due to the persistence of dermoid cyst debris in the subarachnoid space. Here, we present the clinical scenario and radiological features of a ruptured dermoid cyst due to trauma, highlighting a rare complication of a classically benign lesion.

Traumatic rupture of intracranial dermoid cyst with continuous fat droplet migration

“…[13] Typically, these plumes last for years without being absorbed. [9] ere were only 13 cases of ICD rupture due to trauma documented and reviewed by Taha et al [17] ese reports focused on clinical and radiological follow-up along with potential postoperative problems, but none of them delved into details regarding what happened to the fatty particles inside the arachnoid space. [2][3][4]8,10,12,19] Here, we observe a prolonged radiological follow-up that confirms sustained deposition and modifications in the destination of fat granules.…”