title: Diagnosis, management, and follow-up of congenital head and neck teratomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our clinical experience with congenital teratomas of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the six patients as well as a review of the literature in the setting of academic referral centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In six infants with teratomas, four in the cervical region and two arising from the nasopharynx, surgical excision of all tumors was performed. Outcome measures were clinical and radiographic follow-up and the use of a-fetoprotein (AFP) for postoperative monitoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no recurrence of teratomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical excision is the treatment for congenital teratomas. Postoperative monitoring for recurrences should include AFP levels in difficult cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: April
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garelick
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013724:Teratoma / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*