EPIDERMOID TUMORS ASSOCIATED WITH LUMBAR PUNCTURES PERFORMED IN EARLYNEONATAL LIFE

Three children (ages 5, 7, and la years) with epidermoid tumours in th e spinal canal, all of whom had a lumbar puncture during the early neo natal period, are reported. A considerable delay occurred from the fir st symptoms until the diagnosis was made. MRI of the lumbar spine was the method of choice in the diagnostic work-up. All three cases were s uccessfully surgically treated. The link between lumbar punctures and epidermoid tumours and the possible risk factors involved are explored . Because of the variable clinical presentation, the possibility of th e existence of these tumours should be considered in the differential diagnosis.