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A thalamic epidermoid cyst presenting with memory disturbances: a case report
Kumar Paudel1, Ramesh Shrestha2, Sijan Karki3
1Department of Neurosurgery.
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012)
|May 25, 2023
Summary
This case report details a rare intraparenchymal epidermoid cyst in a young adult causing memory disturbances. Complete surgical excision is the recommended treatment for these benign tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Neuropathology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Epidermoid cysts are rare, benign intracranial tumors, typically slow-growing.
- They constitute a small percentage (0.2-1.8%) of all brain tumors and infrequently present as intraparenchymal masses.
- Headaches are the most common symptom in middle-aged individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a unique case of an intraparenchymal epidermoid cyst in the thalamus.
- To highlight memory disturbances as a presenting symptom in a young adult.
- To contribute to the literature on thalamic epidermoid cysts and their neurological associations.
Main Methods:
- A case presentation of a 20-year-old college student with memory deficits.
- Diagnostic imaging revealing a left thalamic mass.
- Surgical excision and histopathological diagnosis of an epidermoid cyst.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with memory disturbances.
- Imaging confirmed a left thalamic mass.
- Histopathology identified the mass as an epidermoid cyst, a rare cause of thalamic lesions.
- This represents a novel association between thalamic epidermoid cysts and memory impairment.
Conclusions:
- Complete surgical removal of the cyst and its capsule is the preferred treatment.
- Radiotherapy is an alternative in cases of incomplete excision.
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare pathologies like epidermoid cysts in the differential diagnosis of thalamic masses, especially with atypical symptoms.
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