A 3-year-old boy had difficulty sitting up and walking for several months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an intradural tumor at the L3-4 level. The tumor was successfully resected by unilateral hemilaminectomy and diagnosed as dermoid cyst. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course without pain, and MRI found no recurrence after surgery. A small bone defect remained that might be favorably reconstructed with autologous and artificial bone. Hemilaminectomy allowed us to resect the cauda equina dermoid cyst with minimal invasiveness. Pediatric patients require follow-up as they are more likely to experience spinal deformity or instability after surgery.
Keywords: cauda equina tumor; child; dermoid cyst; hemilaminectomy; spinal tumor.