title: [Diagnosis and surgical treatment of intramedullary epidermoid cyst of the spinal cord].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment of intra-medullary epidermoid cyst.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten intramedullary epidermoid cysts were confirmed by operatively and pathologically from 1978 to 1995.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumors were located in the spinal cord. Clinical presentation of this tumor was not specific. On CT scans, eight tumors were characterized by a homogenous low-density lesion and well-defined limits. They usually did not enhance with contrast medium. On MR imaging, four tumors were characterized by an important variability of signal intensity, well-defined limits. All patients underwent resections of epidermoid cyst, 1 total resection, and 9 subtotal resections. Eight cases were followed up from half a year to seven years. No case recurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total resection of epidermoid cyst is the best choice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Jinan 250012.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed