title: Symptomatic central canal rupture heralding the presence of an asymptomatic conus dermoid.
abstract: Dermoid cysts represent a rare group of tumors manifesting predominantly in adulthood. Rupture of these tumors is well described with it being symptomatic more commonly intracranially as compared to central canal rupture of intraspinally located dermoid tumor which not only is uncommon, but also frequently asymptomatic. The authors report an unusual case of asymptomatic conus dermoid in a young male diagnosed when investigated for a symptomatic isolated central canal rupture. Fatty contents within the central canal may be a harbinger of an underlying dermoid tumor and a whole spine MRI should be performed in such cases to rule out this bizarre presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosciences Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
authors.forename: Manish K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kasliwal
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Bhawani Shanker
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016896:Treatment Outcome