title: Spinal epidermoid cyst with sudden onset of paraplegia.
abstract: Spinal epidermoid cysts, whether congenital or iatrogenic, are relatively uncommon in the spinal cord. When they occur, the typical location is in the subdural, extramedullary space of the lumbo-sacral region. We describe an unusual presentation in a 3-year-old male child which mimicked astrocytoma clinicoradiologically. The child developed sudden onset of inability in walking and weakness of both lower limbs after a fall. There was a dramatic reversal of symptoms after surgery. Histopathology revealed an epidermoid cyst of the spine. On the first follow-up visit at 3 months, the child was asymptomatic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Anusheel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munshi
authors.forename: Kaustav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Talapatra
authors.forename: Mukta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramadwar
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jalali
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery