Sinus tract of subcutaneous tissues lined by stratified squamous epithelium
Tract lies above intergluteal cleft & extends deep from skin surface for variable distance
Tract may end in subcutaneous tissues, fascia/muscle, vertebrae, epidural space, subarachnoid space, or even intramedullary within spinal cord
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Morioka T et al: Neurosurgical pathology and management of limited dorsal myeloschisis associated with congenital dermal sinus in infancy. Pediatr Neurosurg. 1-13, 2020
Majumdar I et al: Dorsal dermal sinus presenting as quadriparesis. BMJ Case Rep. 12(6), 2019
Schwartz E et al: Congenital anomalies of the spine. In Barkovich A et al:. Pediatric Neuroimaging. 6th ed. Wolter Kluwers. 987-9, 2019
Lee SM et al: Limited dorsal myeloschisis and congenital dermal sinus: comparison of clinical and MR imaging features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 38(1):176-82, 2017
Vankipuram S et al: Spinal cord abscess secondary to infected dorsal dermal sinus in an infant: uncommon presentation of a known entity. BMJ Case Rep. 2017
Singh I et al: Spinal dorsal dermal sinus tract: an experience of 21 cases. Surg Neurol Int. 6(Suppl 17):S429-34, 2015
Tisdall MM et al: Congenital spinal dermal tract: how accurate is clinical and radiological evaluation? J Neurosurg Pediatr. 15(6):651-6, 2015
Mete M et al: Congenital dermal sinus tract of the spine: experience of 16 patients. J Child Neurol. 29(10):1277-82, 2014
Copp AJ et al: Neural tube defects--disorders of neurulation and related embryonic processes. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol. 2(2):213-27, 2013
De Vloo P et al: Spinal dermal sinuses and dermal sinus-like stalks analysis of 14 cases with suggestions for embryologic mechanisms resulting in dermal sinus-like stalks. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 17(6):575-84, 2013
Chopra A et al: Spinal congenital dermal sinus presenting as a diagnostic conundrum. Pediatr Neurosurg. 48(3):187-90, 2012
MartÃnez-Lage JF et al: Spinal dermal sinus and pseudo-dermal sinus tracts: two different entities. Childs Nerv Syst. 27(4):609-16, 2011
Rufener SL et al: Congenital spine and spinal cord malformations--pictorial review. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 194(3 Suppl):S26-37, 2010
Karikari IO et al: Spinal capillary hemangioma in infants: report of two cases and review of the literature. Pediatr Neurosurg. 43(2):125-9, 2007
Guggisberg D et al: Skin markers of occult spinal dysraphism in children: a review of 54 cases. Arch Dermatol. 140(9):1109-15, 2004
Ackerman LL et al: Spinal congenital dermal sinuses: a 30-year experience. Pediatrics. 112(3 Pt 1):641-7, 2003
Elton S et al: Dermal sinus tracts of the spine. Neurosurg Focus. 10(1):e4, 2001
Unsinn KM et al: US of the spinal cord in newborns: spectrum of normal findings, variants, congenital anomalies, and acquired diseases. Radiographics. 20(4):923-38, 2000
Weprin BE et al: Coccygeal pits. Pediatrics. 105(5):E69, 2000
Chen CY et al: Dermoid cyst with dermal sinus tract complicated with spinal subdural abscess. Pediatr Neurol. 20(2):157-60, 1999
Herman TE et al: Intergluteal dorsal dermal sinuses. The role of neonatal spinal sonography. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 32(10):627-8, 1993
Barkovich AJ et al: MR evaluation of spinal dermal sinus tracts in children. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 12(1):123-9, 1991
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Dermal sinus tract (DST), congenital dermal sinus
Definitions
Sinus tract of subcutaneous tissues lined by stratified squamous epithelium
Tract lies above intergluteal cleft & extends deep from skin surface for variable distance
Tract may end in subcutaneous tissues, fascia/muscle, vertebrae, epidural space, subarachnoid space, or even intramedullary within spinal cord
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Morioka T et al: Neurosurgical pathology and management of limited dorsal myeloschisis associated with congenital dermal sinus in infancy. Pediatr Neurosurg. 1-13, 2020
Majumdar I et al: Dorsal dermal sinus presenting as quadriparesis. BMJ Case Rep. 12(6), 2019
Schwartz E et al: Congenital anomalies of the spine. In Barkovich A et al:. Pediatric Neuroimaging. 6th ed. Wolter Kluwers. 987-9, 2019
Lee SM et al: Limited dorsal myeloschisis and congenital dermal sinus: comparison of clinical and MR imaging features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 38(1):176-82, 2017
Vankipuram S et al: Spinal cord abscess secondary to infected dorsal dermal sinus in an infant: uncommon presentation of a known entity. BMJ Case Rep. 2017
Singh I et al: Spinal dorsal dermal sinus tract: an experience of 21 cases. Surg Neurol Int. 6(Suppl 17):S429-34, 2015
Tisdall MM et al: Congenital spinal dermal tract: how accurate is clinical and radiological evaluation? J Neurosurg Pediatr. 15(6):651-6, 2015
Mete M et al: Congenital dermal sinus tract of the spine: experience of 16 patients. J Child Neurol. 29(10):1277-82, 2014
Copp AJ et al: Neural tube defects--disorders of neurulation and related embryonic processes. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol. 2(2):213-27, 2013
De Vloo P et al: Spinal dermal sinuses and dermal sinus-like stalks analysis of 14 cases with suggestions for embryologic mechanisms resulting in dermal sinus-like stalks. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 17(6):575-84, 2013
Chopra A et al: Spinal congenital dermal sinus presenting as a diagnostic conundrum. Pediatr Neurosurg. 48(3):187-90, 2012
MartÃnez-Lage JF et al: Spinal dermal sinus and pseudo-dermal sinus tracts: two different entities. Childs Nerv Syst. 27(4):609-16, 2011
Rufener SL et al: Congenital spine and spinal cord malformations--pictorial review. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 194(3 Suppl):S26-37, 2010
Karikari IO et al: Spinal capillary hemangioma in infants: report of two cases and review of the literature. Pediatr Neurosurg. 43(2):125-9, 2007
Guggisberg D et al: Skin markers of occult spinal dysraphism in children: a review of 54 cases. Arch Dermatol. 140(9):1109-15, 2004
Ackerman LL et al: Spinal congenital dermal sinuses: a 30-year experience. Pediatrics. 112(3 Pt 1):641-7, 2003
Elton S et al: Dermal sinus tracts of the spine. Neurosurg Focus. 10(1):e4, 2001
Unsinn KM et al: US of the spinal cord in newborns: spectrum of normal findings, variants, congenital anomalies, and acquired diseases. Radiographics. 20(4):923-38, 2000
Weprin BE et al: Coccygeal pits. Pediatrics. 105(5):E69, 2000
Chen CY et al: Dermoid cyst with dermal sinus tract complicated with spinal subdural abscess. Pediatr Neurol. 20(2):157-60, 1999
Herman TE et al: Intergluteal dorsal dermal sinuses. The role of neonatal spinal sonography. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 32(10):627-8, 1993
Barkovich AJ et al: MR evaluation of spinal dermal sinus tracts in children. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 12(1):123-9, 1991
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