Intramedullary teratoma of the spine: report of two adult cases

Abstract

Study design: Two case reports of intramedullary teratoma in the spinal cord of adults, and a review of the literature. Objective: To investigate and describe unusual cases of spinal teratoma using MRI to de®ne features that may be used to avoid misdiagnosis. Setting: A department of orthopedic surgery in Japan. Methods: One patient, a 37-year-old woman, was referred because of gait disturbance. She was evaluated by myelography, CT scan with myelography, and MRI. T12 through L1 laminoplasty was performed and the tumor was subtotally removed. The other patient, a 56-year-old man, was referred because of muscle weakness and sensory disturbance. MRI revealed multiple spinal tumors. C4 through C6 laminoplasty and T12 through L2 laminoplasty were performed, and the tumors in these regions were subtotally removed. Results: In Case 1, the postoperative course was excellent, and histological examination of the resected specimen revealed a spinal teratoma consisting of ectodermal and mesodermal elements. In Case 2, the symptoms were resolved after surgery, and ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal elements were revealed. Conclusions: Although intramedullary teratomas are very rare in adults, they need to be considered in di erential diagnosis.

Intramedullary Teratoma in an Adolescent Patient

“…Mature teratoma is composed of fully differentiated adult-type tissue elements representative of the three germ layers 2 ; however, the presence of only two germinal layer elements does not rule out the diagnosis as derivatives of one or two layers may overgrow the other. 6 Plain X-ray often shows erosion of vertebral bodies and widening of interpedicular space with or without associated vertebral anomalies such as spina bifida, vertebral body fusion, and diastematomyelia at the same level of teratoma, although none of these were seen in our case.…”

Mature Spinal Teratoma Associated With Thickened Filum Terminale-Case Report-

“…Recurrence has been observed in incomplete resections. 6,7,11,13,15) In our case, the tumor was totally resected and the thickened filum terminale was incised. Postoperative MR imaging observed no residual tumor.…”

Coexistence of spinal intramedullary teratoma and diastematomyelia in an adult

“…True teratomas are histologically characterized by the presence of three germinal layers. 7,[10][11][12] Tapper and Lack 11 reviewed 256 teratomas in children, and only four were located inside the spinal canal. Sloof et al 2 reported 301 intramedullary spinal cord lesions and distinguished only two cases of teratomas.…”