Case of the Week
Section Editors: Matylda Machnowska1 and Anvita Pauranik2
1University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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December 27, 2010
Epidermoid Cyst
- Epidermoid cysts arise from inclusion of the ectodermal epithelial elements at the time of neural tube closure.
- Account for up to 1% of all primary intracranial tumors.
- Commonly seen in young adults.
- Mostly intradural, cerebellopontine angle cistern is the most common location, followed by the supra and parasellar regions.
- Key Diagnostic Features: Extra-axial mass predominantly hypointense on T1WI, hyperintense on FLAIR and T2WI, demonstrating restricted diffusion, and no intrinsic enhancement following contrast administration is seen. The mass has a cheesy consistency and therefore insinuates into adjacent cisterns engulfing vessels and nerves.
- DDx: Arachnoid cyst, infectious/inflammatory cyst such as neurocysticercosis, cystic neoplasm
- Treatment: Surgical resection
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