Ruptured parasellar dermoid or epidermoid cysts presenting with transient supranuclear eye movement disorders

Abstract

In two patients with previously unsuspected parasellar dermoid or epidermoid tumors, the initial manifestation of cyst rupture was the abrupt onset of transient, supranuclear eye movement abnormalities, suggestive of an intrinsic lesion, localized to a site discrete from the primary location of the tumor. Focal arterial vasospasm induced by subarachnoid leakage of the contents of the ruptured cyst was considered the most likely cause of this clinical presentation.

Key Words:

• Dermoid cyst
• epidermoid cyst
• see-saw nystagmus
• vasospasm
• eye movement disorder