Intramedullary spinal immature teratoma: resolution of quadriplegia following resection in a 4-week-old infant.
Intramedullary spinal cord teratomas are rare entities in infants. Management of these lesions is primarily surgical, with outcome dependent on rapid surgical decompression and complete gross-total tumor resection. The lesions are typically of the mature type, with immature teratomas displaying unique pathological features. The authors report a case of an extensive intramedullary immature teratoma in an infant with resolution of quadriplegia following gross-total radical resection. At the 1-year follow-up, there was radiographic evidence of tumor, and surgical reexploration yielded portions of immature teratoma and extensive gliosis.
Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. hilary.nickols@vanderbilt.edu
Hilary Highfield
HH
Nickols
Lola B
LB
Chambless
Robert P
RP
Carson
Cheryl M
CM
Coffin
Matthew M
MM
Pearson
Ty W
TW
Abel
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*