title: Endodermal cyst of the foramen magnum: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The majority of endodermal cysts occur in the cervicothoracic spine, ventral to the cord. Intracranial locations are rare. We report a case involving the foramen magnum in a 14-year-old child, which was an incidental finding following a traumatic head injury. A review of the literature revealed six other cases involving this same location. These lesions are asymptomatic for a long time, and may cause brain stem medullary compression. Treatment is surgical. Effective simple removal can be achieved by a posterior approach.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Pasteur, Nice, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lonjon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paquis
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Michiels
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grellier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male