A Case of Intracranial Malignant Teratoma

ABSTRACT

The authors report a case of malignant teratoma in a 3-year-old girl who suffered from occipital headache and vomiting for about 2 months. The tumor occupied left cerebellopontine angle resulting in a moderate degree of hydorcephalus. Histologically, the tumor consisted mainly of neuroepithelial tissues showing varying degrees of differentiation, with areas of epidermis, mature fat tissue, connective tissue, gastrointestinal glands and smooth muscle bundles containing ganglions. Also noted are groups pf polygonal or spindle cells representing immature mesodermal tissue. In contrast to two malignant intracranial teratomas previously reported in Korean literatures, this case is characterized by the presence of predominent neuroepithelial components and by uncommon tumor location, the posterior fossa far from middle line of the body.