Spontaneous rupture of spinal dermoid cyst with disseminated lipid droplets in central canal and ventricles

Abstract

Free fat in the ventricular space is a rare but well recognized complication of ruptured tumour of dermal origin. However, only 1 patient of spontaneous rupture of spinal dermoid tumour with disseminated fat in the central canal and ventricles has been described in the literature. The authors report an extremely rare case of ruptured intraspinal dermoid and passage of free fatty droplets via the patent central canal to the intracranial CSF space. The detailed clinical presentation, radiological findings, and review of the literature are presented. Despite being rarely reported, spinal dermoid cyst can rupture spontaneously, and free fat disseminate into the ventricles, and in extremely rare cases, fat can enter into the central canal. It is underlinerd that a prompt detection, with the help of MRI is essential in cases of spinal dermoid tumour cyst, with sudden deterioration in neurological condition, keeping in mind, the possibility of free fat in the central canal.