Huge teratoma of the face.

BACKGROUND: A case of facial teratoma is reported which was composed of the three germinal layers of the embryo. Teratomas form tissues foreign to the body part in which they arise. These are most common in the sacrococcygeal region and in the gonads, but can also be present in extragonadal sites. They remain rare in the head and neck area. Facial teratoma is a very rare tumour, generally benign. Less than 5% of those appearing in the head and neck of children are estimated to be malignant. PATIENT: We describe the case of a female neonate with a very large facial mass, deforming the orbit, the zygomatic arch and the jaws, without any intracranial extension. The tumour was removed at the age of 4 months because of rapid growth. An extended laterofacial approach was used, with superficial parotidectomy and complete facial nerve dissection. The postoperative course was unevenful. The diagnosis was mature teratoma.
CONCLUSION: Clinical outcome of teratomas depends on their histological grade, localization and quality of surgical treatment.