Congenital dermal sinus tract localized in the cervical region in an adult patient – Clinical case. Review of the literature

Abstract

Dermal sinus tract (DST) is a rare congenital disease, characterized by the presence of a pathological fistulous tract, lined by epithelial cells. This tract begins from the surface of the skin and reaches to a various depth in the subcutaneous tissues, sometimes it even reaches the spinal canal. The incidence is 1 case per 2500 live births. Less than 1% of the cases are localized in the cervical region. Only in 4% of the cases the patients are diagnosed after the age of 20. In 2015 Karatas reported the oldest patient with dermal sinus tract in the cervical region – a 34-year-old woman. We would like to report a 58-year-old male patient with congenital DST at C4-C5 level. Congenital DST could be responsible for tethered cord syndrome. Operative exploration of the DST is recommended as a prophylactic measure against infectious complications or tethered cord syndrome.

Keywords

• Dermal sinus tract in adult patient
• Cervical midline skin lesion
• Tethered cord syndrome