Congenital Dermoid Cyst of the Anterior Fontanelle: Case Report in a 3-Year-Old Child in Bouaké

Objective: to describe the imaging features of a congenital dermoid cyst of the anterior fontanelle observed in our practice in a young child. Patients and Observations: a 3-year-old patient was admitted to the radiology and medical imaging department of the Bouaké Regional Hospital for a cranial CT scan due to progressive swelling of the scalp since birth. He presented with a soft, non-pulsatile mass opposite the anterior fontanelle. Cranial computed tomography, scalp ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogeneous, well-defined cystic mass of approximately 5.1 ml, located under the galea, opposite the anterior fontanelle and non-vascularised. It was completely extrameningeal with no detectable intracranial connection. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of dermoid cyst. Conclusion: this case highlights the need for a diagnostic approach integrating clinical, radiological and histological findings when faced with a scalp mass. Although rare, dermoid cysts should remain a suspected diagnosis in any non-pulsatile subcutaneous lesion of the midline.