Iatrogenic spinal epidermoid tumor. A complication of spinal puncture in an adult

A case of an intraspinal epidermoid tumor following a lumbar puncture (LP) is described. This tumor developed 5 years after a LP in a man aged 31 years. The majority of epidermoid tumors reported are late complications of spinal puncture during the early neonatal period. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the third oldest patient, whose symptoms presented relatively early after the initial LP. He was successfully treated by surgery. Pathologic diagnosis revealed an epidermoid cyst. The relation between LP and epidermoid tumor and the possible risk factors involved are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.