CONGENITAL INCLUSION CYSTS OVER THE ANTERIOR FONTANEL IN JAPANESE CHILDREN - A STUDY OF 5 CASES

Congenital inclusion cysts over the anterior fontanel are rare in chil dren in Asia and Europe. However, recent evidence of an increase in ca ses in both areas has been presented. In the period from 1980 to 1989, four patients with a dermoid cyst and one with an epidermoid cyst hav e undergone total excision in our department. Including the previously reported Japanese cases, the number of recorded Japanese cases is now 15, the number of Asian cases thus corresponding to the number in Eur ope. Although these lesions are unlikely to have intracranial extensio ns, noninvasive neuroimaging methods such as computed tomography and m agnetic resonance imaging are recommended for preoperative investigati ons.