title: Cytopathologic findings in an immature cystic teratoma: report of an unusual case.
abstract: Teratomas are uncommon, usually benign tumors often found in young women. We describe the cytopathology of an unusual case of a large congenital teratoma in a 6-day-old girl. The patient initially showed signs of abdominal distention and a follow-up ultrasound and computerized-tomography (CT) revealed a cystic mass in the pelvis. An ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) showed small round blue cells suspicious for a primitive neuronal tumor. Resection of the mass displayed a cystic teratoma with distinct nests of small round blue cells representing immature neuroepithelial and glial tissue. Also noted were admixed mature elements of a cystic teratoma. Cytologic finding of a small round blue cell tumor, therefore, was the immature component of the teratoma. This case illustrates the difficulties in diagnosing teratomas due to their extraordinary diversity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Balco
authors.forename: Frances H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Burroughs
authors.forename: Syed Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D046569:Neuroepithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology*