Gastric teratoma in children

Abstract

Gastric teratoma (GT) comprises less than 1% of all teratomas in children. Though GT in the presence of immature neuroepithelial elements is regarded as malignant, the prognosis is excellent after complete excision of the tumor. Because of its rarity the world literature lacks a large study. Clinical experience with ten cases of GT is presented and discussed. Only one patient was female; the mean age at presentation was 3.2 months. Two cases were immature grade III GT; one of these had infiltrated the left lobe of the liver and the transverse colon while the other had metastasized to the regional lymph nodes and omentum. All the patients underwent complete excision. There were no deaths, and after a mean follow-up period of 4.2 years, all the patients had no recurrence and were healthy. Both the mature and immature types of GT have an excellent prognosis after complete excision of the tumor. Even when the immature type infiltrates surrounding structures, complete excision offers recurrence-free survival without requiring chemo- or radiotherapy.

Gastric Teratoma in an Infant: A Rare Case Report and Discussion

“…The other common sites are oropharynx and tongue [2]. To date, only about 102 cases of gastric teratomas have been reported in the world literature [3]. Hence, we report this rare case of gastric teratoma in an infant.…”

Mature Cystic Gastric Teratoma in an Infant: A Case Presenting with a Gastrointestinal Bleeding

“…The need for adjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy after complete excision of immature and malignant gastric teratomas is still not clearly understood due to their rarity. Nonetheless, up until now, complete excision without adjuvant therapy has shown good prognosis [7,10].…”

Immature Gastric Teratoma in an Infant

“…It is highly expressed in the nerve tissue of mature teratomas and low in that of immature ones [11]. Even those tumors with malignant histological features or exophytic extension into adjacent organ and tissues have an excellent prognosis [12]. Resection of the tumor completely is usually curative; incomplete resection may lead to recurrence.…”

“…Resection of the tumor completely is usually curative; incomplete resection may lead to recurrence. Additional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not needed [3,12]. In the follow-up, AFP titer provides information regarding the recurrence and malignant transformation [1,12].…”

“…Additional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not needed [3,12]. In the follow-up, AFP titer provides information regarding the recurrence and malignant transformation [1,12]. Serum AFP levels should be done before surgery and at periodic intervals after surgery.…”