title: Teratomas in central nervous system: a clinico-morphological study with review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cranio-spinal axis teratomas are rare. This subset is interesting because symptoms can be varied, depending on the location. Histopathology is diagnostic; most of the lesions are benign. Rarely, malignancy develops in any of the somatic components.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the demographic, clinico-morphological and follow-up data of central nervous system (CNS) teratomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases diagnosed as mature or immature teratomas in the CNS over a 20-year period were included in the study. Clinico-radiological, demographic and follow-up data of these cases were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 14 tumors were diagnosed as teratomas. Of these, 11 were mature cystic teratomas; and 1 case each, of teratoma with malignant transformation, terato-carcinoma and mixed germ cell tumor (immature teratoma with germinoma). Six of the 14 cases were intracranial and 8 were spinal. Presenting features varied according to the location. Radiologically, contrast enhancement with predominantly solid component was suggestive of malignancy or an aggressive tumor. Morphologically, a variety of tissue derivatives were seen in the cases. Excision was curative or provided symptomatic relief in most cases; terato-carcinoma and mixed germ cell tumor patients needed adjuvant radiotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CNS teratomas are rare. Morphology and location decide outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Meetu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Megha S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Uppin
authors.forename: Mohana R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Patibandla
authors.forename: Suchanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharjee
authors.forename: Manas K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saradhi
authors.forename: Jyotsna Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Purohit
authors.forename: Sundaram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Challa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009493:Neurosurgery; D013724:Teratoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult