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Published on: January 17, 2018
Primary intradiploic pterional epidermoid cyst
Aldo F Berti1, Gregory C Lovaas, Alejandro Santillan
1Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA. aldoberti@aldobertimd.com
Southern Medical Journal
|December 10, 2009
Summary
A rare intradiploic epidermoid cyst of the skull presented as a temporal protrusion. Surgical removal was successful, and prophylactic excision is recommended to prevent recurrence of these slow-growing, benign tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Skull Base Surgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Intradiploic epidermoid cysts are rare, slow-growing benign tumors.
- These lesions arise from ectopic inclusion of epidermal elements within the diploë of the skull.
- They are typically asymptomatic until reaching a size that causes mass effect or bony erosion.
Observation:
- A 72-year-old woman presented with a left temporal protrusion.
- MRI revealed a heterogeneous intradiploic mass in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.
- The lesion measured 2.4 x 2.1 cm with T2 signal hyperintensity.
Findings:
- Surgical excision via a pterional approach was performed.
- Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an epidermoid cyst.
- The cyst was composed of epidermoid cells and cholesterol-rich debris.
Implications:
- Surgical removal is the standard treatment for intradiploic epidermoid cysts.
- Prophylactic removal is advised to prevent potential recurrence.
- Complete excision aims to avoid complications associated with these benign skull tumors.
