Clinicopathological study of seven cases of spinal cord teratoma: a possible germ cell origin.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the clinical and pathological aspects of teratoma affecting the spinal cord.


RESULTS
We reviewed our neurosurgical records for the last 15 years and found seven cases of teratoma of the spinal cord. The cases were reviewed clinically, radiologically and pathologically using immunohistochemical markers to identify various tissue components. We found that spinal cord teratoma is an extremely rare tumour of spinal cord affecting patients aged 23-47 years and of approximately equal male to female distribution. The terminal portions of spinal cord and intradural location of the tumour are common. Three cases were associated with vertebral anomaly. Most tumours showed benign (mature) components derived from more than one germ cell layer; one showed malignant adenocarcinomatous component. All cases were treated by surgical resection and two recurred at 6 and 10 year intervals without malignant transformation.


CONCLUSIONS
Spinal cord teratoma is a rare, mainly benign tumour, which could be associated with vertebral anomaly. The pathogenesis of this tumour is controversial, possibly due to germinal cell aberration.
al-Sarraj
S T
ST
Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
Parmar
D
D
Dean
A F
AF
Phookun
G
G
Bridges
L R
LR
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005855:Germ Layers / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed