[Epidermoid cyst of the fourth ventricle: four case reports]

Patients with epidermoid cyst of the fourth ventricle usually present with headaches and/or disequilibrium. These cysts are characterized by a focal lesion that is nearly isodense to CSF at CT and nearly isointense to CSF on T1W and T2W MR images. MRI using FLAIR and diffusion weighted images as well as 3D CISS acquisitions is useful to better characterize the lesions and their relation with the vermis, foramen magnum and CP angle cisterns. DWI images are useful for postsurgical evaluation of residual tumor. Extension of the cyst into the CP angle cisterns usually precludes complete surgical resection.