Intracranial epidermoid lesions: Our experience of 56 cases

Objectives This study aims to present a case series evaluating the clinical presentation and surgical outcomes in patients diagnosed with intracranial epidermoid lesions. Material and Methods From January 2015 to December 2022, a 7-year retrospective analysis was carried out at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital’s Department of Neurosurgery in Jaipur. Results The study comprised 56 patients who had surgery to remove cerebral epidermoid lesions. These included 39 with infratentorial lesions and 17 with supratentorial lesions. The most prevalent symptom, affecting 40 patients, was a headache. Seizures occurred in 14 patients with supratentorial lesions. Twenty-four patients with cerebellopontine (CP) angle lesions had trigeminal neuralgia symptoms, whereas patients with suprasellar epidermoid lesions mainly complained of headaches and visual abnormalities. Three individuals having CP angle tumors experienced post-operative facial weakness; two of these patients experienced temporary facial weakness, while one patient experienced persistent facial weakness. Patients with suprasellar epidermoid lesions showed post-operative improvement in visual impairment, though four required hormonal replacement therapy. In addition, one patient experienced a cerebrospinal fluid leak, and three patients developed post-operative meningitis. Conclusion Intracranial epidermoid lesions can occur in various locations within the skull. They usually exhibit symptoms associated with elevated intracranial pressure and particular neurological impairments, depending on their location, just like other space-occupying lesions. With a minimal incidence of complications, surgical results for these lesions generally turn out positive.