Fatma El Mabrouk, Kamal Hlioui, Salma Tabati, Wafa Khatibi, Karima Sif Nasr, Hamza Retal, Habiba Kadiri, Meriem Fikri, Amina El Khamlichi
Journal: Medpeer Publisher
ISSN: 3066-2737
Volume: 3
Issue: 10
Date of Publication: 2026/10/25
Intracranial dermoid cysts are rare, benign congenital lesions arising from ectodermal inclusions during embryogenesis. They typically grow slowly and may remain asymptomatic until they exert mass effect on adjacent structures. Spontaneous rupture is an uncommon but important complication that may result in dissemination of lipid-rich contents into the cerebrospinal fluid spaces, chemical meningitis, seizures, and acute neurological deterioration.
We report a 50-year-old man admitted with agitation, recurrent seizures, impaired consciousness, and focal neurological signs. Previous brain MRI had revealed a large left temporal mass. Emergency CT demonstrated a predominantly fat-attenuation lesion with scattered fat droplets in adjacent subarachnoid spaces, strongly suggesting rupture of an intracranial dermoid cyst. Left temporal lobectomy and subtotal cyst-capsule removal were performed, preserving the portion adherent to the left middle cerebral artery. No intraoperative complications occurred.
This case emphasizes the diagnostic value of CT in detecting disseminated intracranial fat following dermoid cyst rupture and the complementary role of MRI in lesion characterization. Histopathological correlation is essential, particularly when the reported microscopic findings overlap with those of an epidermoid cyst.
Intracranial dermoid cyst; Spontaneous rupture; Fat droplets; Neuroimaging; Histopathology.
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