Unusual presentation of immature teratoma of the neck: A rare case report

Cervical region teratoma is a rare disease, accounting for 3-5% of all teratomas in the children. Teratomas of the head and neck due to their obscure origin, unpredictable behavior, and often manifest as a clinical surprise. Airway obstruction is the most serious postnatal complication of cervical teratoma. Prenatal diagnosis is crucial for early recognition of the neck masses that could obstruct the airway. We present a case of 4-month-old female child at age of 4 th month with right submandibular region swelling. Computed tomography neck showed ill-defined, multiloculated cystic lesion with enhancing thick septations in the right side of the neck. Excision biopsy revealed Grade I--immature teratoma--cervical region. On 1-year of close follow-up, no evidence of local recurrence or metastasis was seen. Unlike adults, teratomas in children are often congenital and very rarely turn malignant. The treating consultant should be aware of their natural history, clinical features, pathology, and principles of management.