Dermoid cyst in the posterior fossa accompanied by Klippel-Feil syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Dermoid cysts accompanied by Klippel-Feil syndrome are uncommon, and the coincidence of these two rare diseases suggests an interesting idea about the pathogenesis of a dermoid cyst, which the authors consider with reference to an actual case. A posterior fossa dermoid cyst with dermal sinus and Klippel-Feil syndrome are reported in the same patient. A 23-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with progressive headaches.


METHODS
Cervical radiography demonstrated C4-5 vertebral fusion, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large cystic mass in the midline of the posterior fossa. The cystic lesion was totally removed along with the accompanying dermal sinus. It was histopathologically diagnosed as a dermoid cyst.


CONCLUSIONS
The rare coincidence of a dermoid cyst and Klippel-Feil syndrome suggests the possibility that a disturbance in the mesoderm before the fourth week of gestation might play an important part in the causation of dermoid cyst.
Hinojosa
M
M
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Hannover Medical College, Germany. hinojosa.michael@mh-hannover.de
Tatagiba
M
M
Harada
K
K
Samii
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007714:Klippel-Feil Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging