title: Mature Teratoma Confined to the Posterior Fossa.
abstract: Mature teratomas located solely in the posterior fossa are rare. We describe a girl who presented with hydrocephalus caused by a posterior fossa tumor that was ultimately diagnosed as a mature teratoma following complete extirpation. Unusual imaging characteristics which produced confusion preoperatively were, however, very consistent with mature teratomas that are encountered in the gonads. Immature elements were universally absent; therefore, extirpation was curative. Hydrocephalus is unlikely to resolve after tumor removal, and cerebrospinal fluid diversion may be required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daugherty
authors.forename: Thang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drehner
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maugans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior; D003399:Craniotomy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt