A Rare Nasopharyngeal Teratoma Arising From the Vomer

Abstract

Teratomas are rare germ cell neoplasms derived from the 3 germinal layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm). Nasopharyngeal teratoma is a very rare teratoma arising anywhere from the oronasal cavity, regarded as an expanding, avity filling lesion, with a high mortality rate because of severe airway obstruction, especially in the neonatal period and make up only 2% of all teratomas. The authors present a case of an infant girl with a single, finger-like, hairy teratoma arising from the vomer and protruding from the mouth with bilateral complete cleft palate, cleft lip, and cleft alveolus. Complete intraoral resection of the teratoma and cleft lip repair was conducted simultaneously. Reconstruction of the cleft palate was performed at a later stage. Recurrence occurred 9 months after surgery and extended complete surgical excision was performed after recurrence, with no recurrence observed again to date. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of congenital mature teratoma.

Success in Emergency Treatment of Neonatal Giant Teratoma with Cleft Palate: A Case Report

“…1 The incidence of teratomas in live births is approximately 1/4,000, and only 2% occur in the head and neck region and are more even rarely accompanied by a cleft palate. 2 Teratomas can be discovered by ultrasonography prenatally, at birth, or postnatally, usually as benign tumors that proliferate during fetal development. An obstructive teratoma is associated with high antenatal mortality, and most clinicians have very limited clinical experience in the treatment of these tumors.…”