Intramedullary teratomas: Two case reports and a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Intramedullary teratomas are extremely rare tumours. A review of the literature found only reports of 59 cases, three of which were treated by us. The most common localisation for these tumours is in the medullary conus. According to our experience as well as more recent reports, MRI images allow a preoperative diagnosis to be made.


METHODS
We treated two cases of intramedullary teratoma of the conus: that of a 41-year-old woman and that of a 40-year-old man. Both suffered from motor and sensory disorders, and the woman also suffered from urinary disorders. CT and MRI enabled us to diagnose an intramedullary tumour and to suspect a dysembryogenic origin.


METHODS
Both patients were treated surgically; the surgical removal of the tumour was extensive but not total because of the tenacious adhesions of the tumour to the adjacent parenchyma.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery is the therapy of choice in cases of intramedullary teratomas; the removal, though incomplete, leads to a definite improvement of symptoms. In our two cases the follow-up has been 7 years and 6 years, respectively. No tumour regrowth occurred during this period.
Caruso
R
R
University La Sapienza Rome, Chief Department of Neurosurgery of the Army Medical Centre of Rome, Italy. ricccaru@tin.it
Colonnese
C
C
D000328:Adult; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology