Spinal epidural teratoma: review of spinal teratoma with consideration on the pathogenesis: case report.
BACKGROUND
Of the 170 cases of teratomas in the spinal canal reported in the English literature, only 13 were spinal epidural teratomas (SETs). We present a case of SET, review the characteristics of SETs in comparison with spinal intradural teratomas (SITs), and investigate the pathogenesis of spinal teratoma.


METHODS
A 17-month-old boy visited our clinic with paraparesis. A multicystic mass was noted in the left epidural space from T8 to T10 and the left paraspinal area. Complete resection of the tumor, including the paraspinal portion, was accomplished by laminoplastic laminotomy. The tumor was well encapsulated and filled with heterogeneous contents. The tumor was suspected to originate from the left T9 root.


CONCLUSIONS
On histopathological examination, the tumor was found to be a mature teratoma. The clinical characteristics of SETs and SITs show similarities in age, male preponderance, location, associated anomalies, and pathology. SETs and SITs are probably 2 different types of a single disease entity. Pluripotent somatic cell from the Hensen's node and caudal cell mass is the probable origin of spinal teratoma. However, originating from misplaced primordial germ cell could not be excluded.
Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
Seong-cheol
SC
Park
Ki-jeong
KJ
Kim
Kyu-Chang
KC
Wang
Gheeyoung
G
Choe
Hyun-Jib
HJ
Kim
D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013724:Teratoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery