Turkish Neurosurgery 2018 , Vol 28 , Num 5
Intracranial Epidermoid Lesions: Our Experience of 38 Cases
Lal REHMAN1,Iram BOKHARI1,Shamim Ul Haq SIDDIQI1,Veejay BAGGA2,Muhammad Masood HUSSAIN2
1Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Karachi, Pakistan
2Hull Royal Infirmary, Department of Neurosurgery, Hull, United Kingdom
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.21095-17.0 AIM: To describe a case series evaluating the clinical presentation and outcome following surgery in patients diagnosed with these lesions.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A retrospective study conducted over a 4-year period.

RESULTS: A total 38 patients who underwent surgery for intracranial epidermoid lesions were identified. Of these, 20 were supratentorial and 18 were infratentorial lesions. Thirty-three patients presented with headache. Ten patients with supratentorial lesions presented with seizures. Patients with suprasellar epidermoid lesions presented with headache and visual problems. Fourteen of the 18 patients with cerebellopontine angle lesions presented with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Postoperatively, 3 patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors developed facial weakness which was transient in 2 patients but permanent in 1 patient. Visual impairment in patients with suprasellar epidermoid lesions improved postoperatively. Hormonal replacement therapy was required in 2 patients. Recovery of 4 patients was complicated by cerebrospinal fluid leak while meningitis developed in 2 patients. One patient operated for cerebellopontine angle epidermoid died postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: Epidermoid lesions can develop anywhere in the cranial cavity. Like other space occupying lesions they often present with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and with specific neurological deficits depending on location of the tumor. Surgical outcome is excellent with low complication rates. Keywords : Cerebellopontine angle, Complication, Epidermoid lesion, Surgical outcome

Corresponding author : Veejay BAGGA, vbagga@doctors.org.uk