Mature solid teratoma of the rectum: report of a case.

A case of an unusual occurrence of mature solid teratoma of the rectum is reported with a review of the literature. A 30-year-old woman presented with bleeding per anum without any alteration in her bowel habits. Sigmoidoscopy revealed a pedunculated polypoidal mass arising from the posterior wall of the rectum. A polypectomy specimen on microscopy showed the components of all the three germ layers. This may be the largest polypoidal type of rectal teratoma reported in the English literature to date. A review of the literature indicated only 50 previously reported cases, with all except one being female. The common presentations include prolapse and bleeding per anum.