Asymptomatic traumatic ruptured intracranial dermoid cyst: a case report

TL;DR

A 38-year-old woman had a traumatic rupture of an asymptomatic brain dermoid cyst after a mild head injury, managed without surgery.

Contribution

This case report highlights the rare occurrence of traumatic rupture of an asymptomatic intracranial dermoid cyst.

Findings

The patient remained asymptomatic despite traumatic rupture of the dermoid cyst.

Conservative management was successful without surgical intervention.

Imaging showed fat droplets in the brain following the rupture.

Abstract

Intracranial dermoid cysts are rare congenital cystic lesions accounting for less than 0.5% of all primary intracranial tumors. They are often asymptomatic but can present with severe complications upon rupture, either spontaneously or traumatically. This report describes a unique case of a 38-year-old female with a traumatic rupture of an intracranial dermoid cyst following mild head injury. The patient was asymptomatic, with no neurological deficits on presentation or follow-up. Imaging revealed a welldefined, fat-attenuating lesion in the right cerebral hemisphere and fat droplets disseminated into the ventricular system and adjacent brain parenchyma. The patient was managed conservatively with close clinical and radiologic monitoring, avoiding surgical intervention due to the absence of symptoms. This case highlights the importance of recognizing traumatic rupture of intracranial dermoid cysts as a potential consequence of head trauma and underscores the need for individualized management to balance surgical risks against potential long-term complications.

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