Cervicofacial teratoma in neonates

Objective: To emphasize the importance of cervicofacial teratoma in neonates and review the pertinent literature.

Methods: The authors report a case of cervicofacial teratoma in a 30th week gestation male newborn, submitted to total surgical resection. The diagnosis was confirmed by routine histological examination.

Results: Prenatal diagnosis was realized by ultrasound. A cesarean section was performed and the newborn presented progressive respiratory failure due to the large cervical mass. In the second day of life, a surgical resection was performed, but the newborn succumbed shortly thereafter. A pathological examination confirmed an Immature Teratoma grade I.

Conclusion: Despite the low incidence of the cervicofacial teratoma, which account for approximately 3% of all neonatal teratomas, the early prenatal diagnosis might be helpful for success of any surgical therapeutic procedure. This is the third related case in latino americana's literature.