Epidermoid cysts (ECs) are benign and slow-growing lesions that account for about
0.2%–2% of all intracranial tumors. Symptoms appear slowly and tumors may have already
grown to giant proportions when patients receive their first diagnosis. The optimal
treatment for ECs is surgical removal, which includes the total resection of the entire
capsule of the lesion in order to minimize the risk of malignant transformation associated
with partial removal. However, considering the giant size that the ECs can reach at
the time of the diagnosis, and their adherence to the surrounding structures, the
risks and benefits of total versus subtotal resections in the short- and long-term
patients' outcome are still under debate. Here, we report a case of an extensive giant
EC and offer a discussion of its characteristics, surgical management, and postoperative
outcome, taking a cue to argue about the recent literature based in the latest case
studies.
Key-words:
Adult - brain cyst - giant epidermoid - surgical treatment - total resection
