Carcinoid tumor development in an intramedullary spinal cord mature teratoma.

The case of a 43-year-old woman with a several month history of severe back pain is reported. CT and MR imaging revealed an intramedullary cystic tumor, which was considered a dermoid cyst or teratoma. During surgery, the tumor was found within the base of the filum terminale and completely resected. Microscopic studies revealed a mature teratoma with an intramural carcinoid nodule. Thirteen-month follow-up after surgical resection showed no evidence of tumor recurrence or neoplasms elsewhere.