Infected intracranial dermal sinus tract in a child

Dermal sinus tracts (DSTs) are rare congenital defects occurring along the cranial spinal axis. They may extend from the skin into the deeper structures of the central nervous system. While most DSTs remain clinically occult, they can provide a route of entry for skin pathogens to cause intracranial infection. We report a child with a recent history of fever of unknown etiology who presented to our emergency department with a subcutaneous occipital mass. She was ultimately diagnosed with an infected intracranial dermal sinus tract. In this report, we provide a review of the literature on the diagnosis and management of this unique entity.