J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1993 Feb;22(2):315-318.

A Case of Intraspinal Epidermoid Tumor Iatrogenically Occurred Following Previous Lumbar Punctures

• Yang JH
• Park CK
• Kang JK
• Choi CR

Abstract

Epidermoid tumors rarely occur in the central nervous system. Their incidence among intraspinal canal tumors is even less than 1% in most large series. Epidermoid tumors are generally understood as embryogenic or congenital tumor, however the etiologic importance of previous lumbar punctures in the formation of epidermoids has been also suggested by some papers, and almost confirmed by an extensive literature review and an animal experiment. Recently we have experienced a case of intraspinal epidermoid, which occurred at the same site as a lumbar puncture had been performed to carry out lumbar myelogram. To our knowledge, such a case has never been reported in a scientific journal in Korea yet. In this report we emphasize the importance of using a spinal puncture needle with a stylet in spinal taps, and of considering a lesion in the thoraco-lumbar junction on performing lumbar spine CT scan even in a patient only with lumbar disc symptoms.

Keyword

Intraspinal epidemoid tumors; Lumbar puncture; Spine MRI; Pathogenesis

MeSH Terms

Animal Experimentation
Central Nervous System
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Needles
Spinal Puncture*
Spine
Tomography, X-Ray Computed