Neonatal intracranial teratoma. Case report.

The authors report the successful total excision of an intracranial teratoma in a neonate. The pathology of this rare tumor and its prognosis in relation to the maturity of individual cell lines is discussed. A review of the previous operation experience in the neonatal age group shows that radical surgical excision of the tumor has seldom been attempted. There are no reported survivors with normal neurological development. The clinical presentation, preoperative evaluation, and operative management are discussed. Emphasis is laid on intensive supportive care in the perioperative period. The difficulty in predicting a benign or malignant course in these tumors justifies extreme caution in making a prognosis and demands careful follow-up supervision. Reoperation is indicated for recurrent benign tumors; malignant germ-cell tumors may respond to combined irradiation and chemotherapy.