Biomaterial Database

Posterior fossa abscesses secondary to dermal sinus associated with dermoid cyst in children. 2008

B Yang, and H-M Jin, and L-P Sun, and W Cai, and C-R Shi

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, PR China.

We report on the rare disease of posterior fossa abscesses secondary to dermal sinus associated with dermoid cyst in 4 pediatric cases seen over a 15-year of period. All children had a small dimple or a pinhole on the skin of the occipital region. On admission they had the signs of increased intracranial pressure, while 3 of them still suffered from signs of meningitis resulting from a bacterial infection through the dermal sinus. CT scan and MR images revealed both the route of the dermal sinus and intracranial lesions. Total resection was successfully achieved before various treatments in all patients without nervous sequelae. In conclusion, a posterior fossa dermoid cyst should be considered in all children with an occipital dermal sinus. Cerebellar abscesses will arise once bacterial infection has occurred through the associated dermal sinus. Radiological studies such as CT scans and MR images can help confirm the diagnosis and locate the lesions. Early neurosurgical interventions including external ventricular drainage, external abscess drainage and primary removal should be planned as soon as possible in accord with the children's condition.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008297	Male		Males
D009777	Occipital Bone	Part of the back and base of the CRANIUM that encloses the FORAMEN MAGNUM.	Basilar Bone,Basilar Bones,Bone, Basilar,Bone, Occipital,Bones, Basilar,Bones, Occipital,Occipital Bones
D001922	Brain Abscess	A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate in the brain, due to bacterial and other infections. The majority are caused by spread of infected material from a focus of suppuration elsewhere in the body, notably the PARANASAL SINUSES, middle ear (see EAR, MIDDLE); HEART (see also ENDOCARDITIS, BACTERIAL), and LUNG. Penetrating CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA and NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES may also be associated with this condition. Clinical manifestations include HEADACHE; SEIZURES; focal neurologic deficits; and alterations of consciousness. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp712-6)	Brain Abscess, Child,Brain Abscess, Multiple,Brain Abscess, Pyogenic,Brain Abscess, Sterile,Cerebral Abscess,Abscess, Brain,Abscess, Cerebral,Abscess, Child Brain,Abscess, Multiple Brain,Abscess, Pyogenic Brain,Abscesses, Cerebral,Abscesses, Multiple Brain,Brain Abscesses,Brain Abscesses, Multiple,Brain Abscesses, Pyogenic,Brain Abscesses, Sterile,Cerebral Abscesses,Child Brain Abscess,Multiple Brain Abscess,Multiple Brain Abscesses,Pyogenic Brain Abscess,Pyogenic Brain Abscesses,Sterile Brain Abscess,Sterile Brain Abscesses
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003388	Cranial Fossa, Posterior	The infratentorial compartment that contains the CEREBELLUM and BRAIN STEM. It is formed by the posterior third of the superior surface of the body of the sphenoid (SPHENOID BONE), by the occipital, the petrous, and mastoid portions of the TEMPORAL BONE, and the posterior inferior angle of the PARIETAL BONE.	Clivus,Cranial Fossas, Posterior,Fossa, Posterior Cranial,Fossas, Posterior Cranial,Posterior Cranial Fossa,Posterior Cranial Fossas
D003884	Dermoid Cyst	A tumor consisting of displaced ectodermal structures along the lines of embryonic fusion, the wall being formed of epithelium-lined connective tissue, including skin appendages, and containing keratin, sebum, and hair. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Dermoid,Cyst, Dermoid,Cysts, Dermoid,Dermoid Cysts,Dermoids
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man