Dermoid cysts revealed by meningitis with medullary compression.

The spinal dermal sinus tracts in the lumbosacral region are not usually re cognized, especially when they are not associated with other cutaneous lesi ons. In these sites, the sinus tracts communicate with the dura in 90% of c ases, leading to an important risk of meningitis. Case reports. - Two infants (9 and 12 months old) were hospitalized for men ingitis. The hospitalization was preceded two weeks earlier by stubborn con stipation, which revealed a neural compression. The physical and MRI examin ation showed a lumbosacral sinus in contact with a dermoid or an epidermoid tumor. These cysts were infected with anaerobic organisms. Despite surgery and antibiotic therapy, one child remained paraplegic. Conclusion. - Dermal sinuses above the intergluteal crease should be surgic ally excised at the time of diagnosis in all patients, regardless of the pa tient's age or neurologic findings. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medi cales Elsevier SAS.