[A case of spinal epidermoid caused by lumbar punctures]

Abstract

A case of spinal epidermoid caused by lumbar punctures is reported. The 50-year-old man, who had been diagnosed as having poliomyelitis and who had been treated with lumbar puncture 24 times when he was 1 year old, came to our clinic complaining of gradual worsening of atrophy and weakness in his right leg during the last 10 years. Neuroradiologically, intraspinal tumor with calcification was detected in the lumbar region and partial removal of the tumor was performed. Pathological diagnosis was that it was epidermoid. During frequent lumbar puncture at the age of 1, some small skin grafts had been implanted intrathecally and we concluded that, changing its original nature, it had grown slowly to become epidermoid. We want to emphasize especially here that, when we performe lumbar puncture, we should, as far as possible, use a small needle with stilette so as not to induce future spinal epidermoid.