CRANIAL DERMOID AND EPIDERMOID TUMORS

Objectives: To assess the surgical out come of patients with intracranial epidermoid / dermoid tumors. Material and Methods: This descriptive observational study was conducted in department of Neurosurgery, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from May 2003 to March 2007. Patient with radiologically diagnosed epidermoid /dermoid tumors based on CT and MRI findings were selected. Detailed history and clinical features along with radiological findings were documented. Operative and histopathological details were noted. Results: A total of 13 patients with dermoid / epidermoid tumor were analyzed. There were 8 males and 5 females with age ranged for 4 to 48 years with mean age of 30.2+13 years. The clinical features like trigeminal neuralgia, dimness of vision and papilloedema were commonly noted. Four lesions were supratentorial and 09 were infra-tentorial. In supratentorail tumors, two were in sylvian fissure, one in temporal, and one in lateral ventricular area. Among infratentorial, 6 were in cerebellopontine angle and 3 were in midline fourth ventricular area. Histological findings showed epidermoid in 10 and dermoid in 03 cases. Postoperative complications noted were CSF leakage in 2 (15.4%) cases, seizures and facial palsy in 1 patient (7.7%) each.. Two patients died during the study period due to post operative complications. Conclusion: Dermoid / epidermoid are tumors of 2nd and 3rd decade of life, midline are dermoid while laterally located are epidermoid tumors. Safe resection is the only treatment option available.