Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare case

Epidermoid cysts are rare intracranial lesions comprising approximately 1% of all brain tumors, with petrous apex involvement accounting for 4%-9% of cases. These congenital lesions arise from ectodermal remnants during neural tube closure, while acquired cases may result from trauma or chronic midd...

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Main Authors: Khaoula Boumeriem, MD, Amal Lahfidi, MD, Izi Zineb, MD, Najwa Ech Cherif Kettani, PhD, Meryem Fikri, PhD, Firdaous Touarsa, PhD, Mohamed Jiddane, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Radiology Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325001475
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author Khaoula Boumeriem, MD
Amal Lahfidi, MD
Izi Zineb, MD
Najwa Ech Cherif Kettani, PhD
Meryem Fikri, PhD
Firdaous Touarsa, PhD
Mohamed Jiddane, PhD
author_facet Khaoula Boumeriem, MD
Amal Lahfidi, MD
Izi Zineb, MD
Najwa Ech Cherif Kettani, PhD
Meryem Fikri, PhD
Firdaous Touarsa, PhD
Mohamed Jiddane, PhD
author_sort Khaoula Boumeriem, MD
collection DOAJ
description Epidermoid cysts are rare intracranial lesions comprising approximately 1% of all brain tumors, with petrous apex involvement accounting for 4%-9% of cases. These congenital lesions arise from ectodermal remnants during neural tube closure, while acquired cases may result from trauma or chronic middle ear pathology. Clinical presentation is variable and depends on the lesion's location and impact on surrounding neurovascular structures, with cranial nerve dysfunction being the most common symptom. Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis, with diffusion-weighted MRI distinguishing epidermoid cysts from other lesions such as arachnoid cysts and cholesterol granulomas. Management remains challenging due to their proximity to critical structures; complete surgical excision minimizes recurrence but may increase morbidity, while subtotal resection requires long-term follow-up. We report the case of a 40-year-old female patient who presented with a history of progressive hearing loss and facial paralysis, in whom an epidermoid cyst of the petrous apex was diagnosed.
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issn 1930-0433
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Radiology Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-c05aa5841b7c487aa9f0cd420471308f2025-08-20T03:09:00ZengElsevierRadiology Case Reports1930-04332025-06-012062662266510.1016/j.radcr.2025.02.047Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare caseKhaoula Boumeriem, MD0Amal Lahfidi, MD1Izi Zineb, MD2Najwa Ech Cherif Kettani, PhD3Meryem Fikri, PhD4Firdaous Touarsa, PhD5Mohamed Jiddane, PhD6Corresponding author.; Neuroradiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, MoroccoNeuroradiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, MoroccoNeuroradiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, MoroccoNeuroradiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, MoroccoNeuroradiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, MoroccoNeuroradiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, MoroccoNeuroradiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, MoroccoEpidermoid cysts are rare intracranial lesions comprising approximately 1% of all brain tumors, with petrous apex involvement accounting for 4%-9% of cases. These congenital lesions arise from ectodermal remnants during neural tube closure, while acquired cases may result from trauma or chronic middle ear pathology. Clinical presentation is variable and depends on the lesion's location and impact on surrounding neurovascular structures, with cranial nerve dysfunction being the most common symptom. Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis, with diffusion-weighted MRI distinguishing epidermoid cysts from other lesions such as arachnoid cysts and cholesterol granulomas. Management remains challenging due to their proximity to critical structures; complete surgical excision minimizes recurrence but may increase morbidity, while subtotal resection requires long-term follow-up. We report the case of a 40-year-old female patient who presented with a history of progressive hearing loss and facial paralysis, in whom an epidermoid cyst of the petrous apex was diagnosed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325001475Epidermoid cystPetrous apexFacial nerve damage
spellingShingle Khaoula Boumeriem, MD
Amal Lahfidi, MD
Izi Zineb, MD
Najwa Ech Cherif Kettani, PhD
Meryem Fikri, PhD
Firdaous Touarsa, PhD
Mohamed Jiddane, PhD
Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare case
Radiology Case Reports
Epidermoid cyst
Petrous apex
Facial nerve damage
title Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare case
title_full Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare case
title_fullStr Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare case
title_full_unstemmed Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare case
title_short Petrous apex epidermoid cyst: A rare case
title_sort petrous apex epidermoid cyst a rare case
topic Epidermoid cyst
Petrous apex
Facial nerve damage
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325001475
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