Acquired epidermoid cysts of the cauda equina

Intradural extramedullary epidermoid (EC) cysts are uncommon (0.2-1%). Acquired tumors appear more frequently as a late complication of lumbar punctures (40%). The authors present three cases of epidermoid cysts of the cauda equina which were surgically treated in their department during the past five years. All three had suffered lumbar punctures for rachianesthesia 6-9 years prior to their presentation. The patients' ages ranged between 19 and 31. Surgical treatment was deemed necessary because of the space-occupying nature of this slow-growing lesion, and this indication was supported by the MRI findings. Two-level laminectomy and microsurgical total tumor ablation were performed in all three cases. There were no postoperative complications.