Abstract

Teratoma is a type of tumor that contains a mixture of multiple germinal layers. Mature teratomas are relatively less common than the immature form and contain fully differentiated adult type tissue elements from the three germinal layers. Only 0.15-0.18% of spinal tumors are classified as teratomas. Until now only around 40 cases have been reported and most of them located in the thoracolumbar region. Preservation of neurological function is of utmost importance during the surgical removal of these lesions. Therefore, the application of intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring is mandatory. The drop in electrical potentials during surgery might lead to only partial resection of the intramedullary teratomas, which is documented in around one third of the cases so far. However, even with a partial resection the recurrence rate of these lesions is very low.

Keywords: Intramedullary teratoma; Rare spinal cord tumors; Mature teratoma.