title: Lumbosacral congenital dermal sinus presenting in a 52-year-old man. Case report.
abstract: Spinal congenital dermal sinus is a rare entity which results from failure of the neuroectoderm to separate from cutaneous ectoderm during the process of neurulation. This epithelium-lined tract forms a potential communication between the skin surface in the midline along the spine and the deeper tissues. We describe a case of an asymptomatic lumbosacral congenital dermal sinus in a 52-year-old man. Microsurgical excision of dermal tract was performed with no postoperative complications and with a satisfactory cosmetic result. The authors stress the importance of an early neuroradiological and neurosurgical management of the lesion. The embryogenesis of this pathological condition and the possible complications are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Italy. fsalp@eniware.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alafaci
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collufio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tripodo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomasello
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012868:Skin Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*