title: Occipital dermoid cyst associated with dermal sinus complicated with meningitis: A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occipital dermal sinus, usually associated with dermoid cyst, is a rare entity; it results from the persistence of an abnormal embryonal communication between the skin and the intradural space. Its main complication is intracranial infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 2-year-old girl was hospitalized for meningitis. Neuroradiological studies revealed a cystic mass of the posterior fossa communicating with the skin and hydrocephalus. The diagnosis of dermoid cyst associated with dermal sinus was established at surgery. The patient was treated with radical excision of both the occipital cyst and the dermal sinus associated with systemic antibiotic therapy. She had a good outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior fossa dermoid cyst should be considered in all children with chronic occipital skin lesion, especially a dermal sinus. We emphasize the importance of early neurosurgical treatment of dermoid cysts to prevent the development of severe complications.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric department, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia. Electronic address: maaloul.ines@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maaloul
authors.affiliation: Pediatric department, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hsairi
authors.affiliation: Department of radiology, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fourati
authors.affiliation: Pediatric department, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chabchoub
authors.affiliation: Pediatric department, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamoun
authors.affiliation: Department of radiology, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mnif
authors.affiliation: Pediatric department, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hachicha
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology*; D009777:Occipital Bone; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000150:complications*