[Two cases of spina bifida cystica with congenital dermal sinus]

Spina bifida cystica and congenital dermal sinus are congenital anomalies which are called dysraphic states. Numerous reports of congenital dermal sinus can be seen in Europe and America, but in this country we have been able to find no more than six reported cases. Also in this country, to the best of our knowledge, only two cases of combined spina bifida cystica and congenital dermal sinus have been seen. The small incidence of reported cases may be due to the fact that congenital dermal sinus tends to go unnoticed except when infection develops. Consequently when dermal sinus is asymptomatic, even in both combined cases, it probably is thought to be only spina bifida. We have seen the combination with congenital dermal sinus in two among twenty cases of spina bifida cystica which we have observed during the past seven years. We report on this and discuss it in relation to the other literature.