Congenital nasopharyngeal teratoma in a neonate.
BACKGROUND
Congenital germ cell tumors are uncommon. The most common site of teratoma is in the sacrococcygeal region. Teratoma arising from the head and neck comprises less than 10% of reported cases and of these, nasopharyngeal lesions are rare. Teratomas are generally benign, and have a well recognized clinical and histopathological entity. We present a case of nasopharyngeal teratoma (NPT) associated with a wide cleft palate.


METHODS
A 20 day old female neonate with a teratoma of the nasopharyngeal area, and wide cleft palate was referred to our center. The protruded mass which measured 6×4×3cm, was of soft consistency, blocked the airway, and prevented oral feeding. Preoperative evaluation and imaging was performed and mass was excised 2 days after admission. Pathology revealed a well-differentiated mature solid teratoma (hairy polyp). The patient had no complication in the post-operative period. Cleft palate was surgically repaired when 2 years old. She is now a six year old girl with normal development.


CONCLUSIONS
Congenital nasopharyngeal teratomas are usually benign. Surgery is the treatment of choice, and should be undertaken on an urgent basis, especially in a patient who presents with signs and symptoms of airway obstruction.
Pediatric Surgery Research Center, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Mirshemirani
Ahmad
A
Khaleghnejad
Leila
L
Mohajerzadeh
Majid
M
Samsami
Shaghayegh
S
Hasas-Yeganeh