A Case of Dermal Sinus Tract with Recurrent Meningitis in a 3-Month-Old Infant

Abstract

Spinal dermal sinus tract (DST) is a rare congenital dysraphism that occurs in approximately one in every 2,500 live births. Many studies have reported that cutan­ eous stigmata overlying the posterior midline neuroaxis may be associated with dermal sinuses, including abnormal pigmentation, hemangioma, hypertri chosis, and benign sacrococcygeal dimples. Spinal DSTs that are connected with sinuses may have diverse clinical presentations and may involve clinical complica tions, occasionally caused by a neurologic defect, or infectious complications, in cluding life­threatening conditions such as meningitis. A 3­month­old girl had experienced recurrent meningitis without typical abnormal findings on physical and laboratory examinations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate infec­ tious conditions, and DST was found incidentally. Although MRI findings revealed DST, we could not find any small opening on the skin on careful observation. Thus, first ­line physicians should keep several important factors in mind when initially evaluating patients with recurrent meningitis, such as cutaneous findings over the midline neuroaxis and early neuro imaging studies for congenital dysraphism.