Rupture of intracranial dermoid cyst with disseminated lipid droplets

Introduction. - Dermoid cysts are rare slow-growing benign tumors of the central nervous system generally diagnosed in the third to fifth decade. They are formed from inclusion of ectodermal elements during neural tube closure, and are mostly located along the cranial or spinal midline axis. They cause many non specific symptoms such as headache and seizures, and may spontaneously rupture spreading fatty droplets into the ventricles and subarachnoid spaces. Rupture of dermoid cysts causes sequelae which may vary from no symptoms to death. In general, subtotal surgical removal is required for ruptured dermoid cysts. Case reports. - We report two cases of ruptured intracranial dermoid tumor with non-specific clinical presentations. The first rupture was asymptomatic and discovered on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed for other purposes. The second case was identified on brain imaging performed because of daily headache. These dermoid cysts were not surgically treated. Surveillance was advised because of the spontaneously favourable outcome observed in both cases. Conclusion. - Surgical removal is not the only treatment of ruptured dermoid cyst. Monitoring with brain MRI can be sufficient if the rupture has no severe clinical impact. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.