title: Intramedullary spinal epidermoid cyst of the upper thoracic region.
abstract: We report a 40-year-old male who presented with a two year history of thoracic cord compression. MRI of the thoracic spine demonstrated a diffuse, non-gadolinium enhancing intramedullary spinal cord tumour, extending from the C7 to T2 vertebral body levels. The lesion was surgically resected and the pathology revealed an epidermoid cyst. Epidermoid cysts are rare slow-growing lesions apparently resulting from inclusion of ectodermal tissue during the closure of the neural tube. The average age of presentation is about 35 years and the history of the symptoms is usually long. The treatment is surgical, and complete removal is the goal, if possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia. augusto.gonzalvo@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalvo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: J H A
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fabinyi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery