Benign intracardiac teratoma. A case of sudden death.

A 2.5-year-old girl with no known medical problems had a witnessed sudden collapse and died. At autopsy, a large tumor was found within the interventricular septum of the heart. The gross and microscopic findings of the tumor were typical for a benign teratoma. Only five other cases of benign teratomas of the heart were found in a review of the literature. Pertinent features of these tumors are discussed.