title: Thoracolumbar teratoma associated with meningomyelocele: common aetiology or coincidence?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association of teratoma and neural tube defects is very rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of teratoma resembling bowel within a meningomyelocele is presented and the literature reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypotheses of a possible common aetiology for this association include a single dysembryogenic process and neoplastic transformation of heterotopic primordial elements incorporated in the defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Alder Hey, Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK.
authors.forename: Jark Jan Daniel
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bosma
authors.forename: Conor Lawrence
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mallucci
authors.forename: Paul Laurence
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology