Immature malignant teratoma in a newborn. A case report
Agozzino, L.; Vosa, C.; Cotrufo, M.
Pathologica 76(1046): 723-732
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-2983 PMID: 6537481 Document Number: 228421
A case of malignant intrapericardial teratoma in a newborn is described. The tumor was a predominantly solid teratoma, consisting of both mature and immature tissues. Two months after excision it recurred, filling the pericardial sac and invading the left pleura. The patient underwent surgery again, but death followed severe clinical deterioration 9 days after operation. The recurrence consisted mostly of immature neuroepithelial tissue. This is probably the first report of a malignant immature mediastinal teratoma occurring in a newborn. Its morphological features and clinical behavior suggest that the presence of immature neuroepithelial tissue may be correlated with poor prognosis in mediastinal teratomas of infancy and childhood as well as in ovarian and sacrococcygeal ones. Therefore post-operative radio or chemiotherapy should be performed.