Chronic urinary retention revealing an isolated spinal dermoid cyst

Spinal dermoid cysts are congenital lesions. Neurological symptoms are related to the affected area of the vertebral canal. The commonest type involves the sacrococcygeal area. Lesions of the cauda equina are found which result in sciatic pain, paresis of the bladder and rectum, flaccid paresis of the legs, and/or sphincter disturbances. The histology is typical and benign. The images on CT and MR provide diagnosis. We report a case of spinal dermoid cyst revealed by chronic urinary retention.