CONGENITAL TERATOMAS OF THE HEAD AND NECK

Objective: This article reviews teratomas, neoplasms composed of the t hree germinal layers of the embryo that form tissues foreign to the pa rt in which they arise. These are most common in the sacrococcygeal re gion and are rare in the head and neck. In this region, major concerns are airway obstruction and cosmesis. Method: Pathology records at two tertiary care paediatric hospitals were reviewed for diagnoses of hea d and neck teratomas. This revealed nine cases between 1983 and 1993, five males and four females. Two males were stillborn. Five were cervi cal, two were in the nasopharynx, and two were facial. The lesions wer e immature in two cases and mature in the remainder. All of the livebo rn children underwent surgery within the first year of life, and only one required tracheotomy. Results: One child had recurrence of teratom atous tissue diagnosed with CT, which was treated surgically. The chil d has remained free of tumour for over 3 years. Pathogenesis, clinical appearance, diagnostic work-up, and currently accepted modes of thera py are reviewed.