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Published on: July 1, 2018
[Sacrococcygeal dermal sinus presented bacterial meningitis: a case report]
Miiko Ito1, Kaori Sakurada, Yasuaki Kokubo
1Department of Neurosurgery, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2 2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan.
A rare sacrococcygeal dermal sinus caused relapsing meningitis in an infant. Unique caudal direction and filum terminale fusion highlight developmental differences from other dermal sinuses.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Recurrent meningitis in infants can indicate underlying spinal abnormalities.
- Occult spinal dysraphism, including dermal sinuses, requires prompt diagnosis.
- Sacrococcygeal dermal sinus is a rare congenital anomaly presenting diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 10-month-old boy presented with recurrent meningitis and a sacrococcygeal pit.
- Spinal MRI revealed a sacrococcygeal dermal sinus with unusual caudal extension.
- The sinus was fused with the filum terminale and a dermoid cyst.
Findings:
- The sacrococcygeal dermal sinus exhibited a unique caudal trajectory, differing from other spinal dermal sinuses.
- Pathological findings suggest a developmental origin linked to the caudal cell mass and filum terminale.
- Distinguishing sacrococcygeal dermal sinus from coccygeal pits is crucial for appropriate management.
Implications:
- Understanding the unique pathogenesis of sacrococcygeal dermal sinus aids in differentiating it from coccygeal pits.
- Surgical resection is indicated for symptomatic sacrococcygeal dermal sinus to prevent complications like meningitis.
- This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging in diagnosing rare spinal anomalies in infants.
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