title: Epidermoid cyst mimicking an intrinsic brainstem tumor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an atypical clinical and radiological presentation of a brainstem epidermoid cyst in a child and to provide a review of the medical literature on brainstem epidermoid cysts in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of medical records and operative notes of an unusual case of a patient with a brainstem epidermoid cyst. MEDLINE literature search using the terms brainstem, epidermoid cyst and children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gross total resection of the cyst was achieved. The patient had an uneventful recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidermoid cysts are rare tumors of the brain and children. The management of these tumors can be quite challenging. A good clinical and neuroradiological evaluation pre-operatively is fundamental for a successful surgical treatment. Surgical resection should be as radical as possible without putting the patient's neurological status into risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo; Hospital Infantil Varela Santiago, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: marcelovolpon@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volpon Santos
authors.forename: Luciano Lopes
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Furlanetti
authors.forename: Mércia Duarte
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jeanne Bezerra
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D011149:Pons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013285:Strabismus / Q000209:etiology