Suprasellar epidermoid cyst in an adult female, presenting as amnesia and somnolence: A rare case report

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial epidermoid cysts (ECs) are rare benign congenital lesions and account for approximately 0.3 to 1.8% of all intracranial brain tumors. They frequently occur at the cerebellopontine angles and parasellar regions, insinuating between brain structures. The author reports here a case of pathologically proven suprasellar epidermoid cyst in an adult female, presented with amnesia and somnolence to increase awareness about this unusual presentation. CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old female was presented to our hospital complaining of amnesia for one year, followed by weakness and somnolence for 2 months. Radiological imaging showed the features of the suprasellar epidermoid cyst which resected through the transsphenoidal endoscopic approach. DISCUSSION: Epidermoid cysts are slow-growing, benign lesions however, they may rarely undergo malignant transformation into a squamous cell carcinoma. The mean age at presentation of these lesions is 40 years. Suprasellar/sellar lesions usually present with non-specific headaches and visual disturbances. However, our case presented with amnesia and somnolence. CONCLUSION: Surasellare epidermoid cysts (ECs) are rare benign congenital lesions. They often manifest with headache and visual field defects but, they may present with atypical symptoms as amnesia and somnolence. Endoscopic transnasal and trans-sphenoidal approaches can help to remove the lesion in most cases. Attention needs to the possible postoperative complications and longtime imaging follow-up because this lesion may recur after a few years.