Journal of Surgical Education
Volume 67, Issue 4 , Pages 227-232, July 2010

Presacral Epidermoid Cyst in a Male: A Case Report and Literature Review

  • Christina M. Riojas, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of General Surgery, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia
  • ,
  • Christina D. Hahn, MD

      Affiliations

    • Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
  • ,
  • Eric K. Johnson, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence: Inquiries to Eric K. Johnson, MD, Eisenhower Army Medical Center, 300 Hospital Road, Fort Gordon, GA 30905; fax: 706-787-2347

Presacral cysts are an uncommon entity most often found incidentally in women. These tumors can arise from any of the 1 or more cell lines present in the presacral space during embryogenesis. We present a case of a 46-year-old male patient who was found to have a well-circumscribed presacral mass on computed tomography (CT) scan, which was obtained for his complaint of vague lower back pain. He underwent transabdominal excision, and pathology revealed a presacral epidermoid cyst filled with keratinaceous material. Presacral cysts are rare, especially in male patients. These tumors originate from an embryologic error during development. Because of the risk of infection and malignant transformation, they should be excised. Surgical options include a posterior approach, transabdominal approach, combined approach, or transrectal approach. The approach is dictated by the tumor size, location, presence of malignancy, and bony invasion.

Keywords: presacral cysts, epidermoid cysts, developmental cysts, transabdominal excision of presacral cyst, incidental presacral masses

Competency: Medical Knowledge

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PII: S1931-7204(10)00173-X

doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.06.005

Journal of Surgical Education
Volume 67, Issue 4 , Pages 227-232, July 2010