1. Iatrogenic Epidermoid Cyst of the Cauda Equina: A Late Complication of Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery
- Author
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Bilel Loukil, Ihsen Zammel, Ghassen Gader, M. Rkhami, and Mohamed Badri
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Weakness ,Cauda Equina ,Epidermal Cyst ,03 medical and health sciences ,Postoperative Complications ,0302 clinical medicine ,Lumbar ,medicine ,Humans ,Orthopedic Procedures ,Aged ,Lumbar Vertebrae ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Spina bifida ,Laminectomy ,Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ,Cauda equina ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,Epidermoid cyst ,medicine.disease ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Low back pain ,Surgery ,Treatment Outcome ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Sphincter ,Female ,Neurology (clinical) ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Intervertebral Disc Displacement ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Background Epidermoid cysts (ECs) account for 0.5% to 1% of all spinal tumors. They can be congenital or acquired. Acquired spinal ECs are extremely rare and are mostly caused by trauma, or secondary to iatrogenic procedure such as lumbar punctures or surgery for spina bifida. As far as we know, this is the first report of a spinal EC complicating surgery for a lumbar disc herniation. Case Description A 69-year-old woman, with a history of L3–L4 lumbar disc herniation surgery 30 years earlier, presented because of low back pain, weakness of her lower limbs, and bladder dysfunction evolving for 2 years. Magnetic resonance imaging identified an intradural cystic lesion extending from the medullary cone to the L4 level, evoking an EC. The diagnosis was confirmed peroperatively. Neurologic motor signs improved postoperatively but not the sphincter disorders. Conclusions Despite the extreme rarity of this event, we should be aware of the potential de novo development of epidermoid tumors in patients who undergo surgery for lumbar disc herniation. Concerns must be given to persistent low back pain and delayed neurologic symptoms in these patients.
- Published
- 2020
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