Cerebellar intra-axial dermoid cyst: a case of unusual location

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Intra-axial dermoid cysts are rare intracranial space occupying lesions, more so in the pediatric age group. Dermoid cysts account for about 0.2 to 1.8% of all intracranial tumors and are commonly located in the cisternal spaces, mainly in the cerebellopontine angle and parasellar cisterns. A purely intra-axial position as reported in this paper is quite exceptional. We report a case of intra-axial dermoid cyst located in the cerebellum that was surgically treated. The origin, clinical course, radiological features, pathological findings, and surgical treatment are discussed based on a review of the literature. An intra-axial dermoid cyst is a rare entity and a preoperative diagnostic dilemma, as the radiologic findings overlap with many other intra-axial cerebellar masses. The case is reported in this paper to highlight the fact that, although rare, the possibility of an intra-axial mass being a dermoid cyst does exist.