Intraventricular fat-fluid level secondary to rupture of an intracranial dermoid cyst

Abstract

Intracranial dermoid cysts are rare congenital tumors. Because of a slow growth pattern, these tumors may attain considerable size before discovery. Patients harboring these lesions generally have a long history of symptoms; average time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis is 8.5 years [1, 2]. The mode of presentation depends upon the size and location of the tumor. The clinical picture is nonspecific, and symptoms may include headache, seizures, dementia, and, occasionally, meningitis. Papilledema is often absent, and spinal tap is normal in more than half of the cases [3, 4]. Plain skull x-rays are often abnormal and may show a variety of changes. This case illustrates a previously unreported finding of an intraventricular fat-fluid level secondary to spontaneous rupture of a dermoid cyst.