Oral Teratomas Are Rare but Often Fatal

Background: Oral teratomas are extremely rare and occur most exclusively in infants with most cases including congenital cleft palate and tongue malformations. Objective: To present and discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of 5 cases of neonates with oral teratomas. Methods: Using the medical records from the oral maxillofacial surgery department of a university hospital, the authors describe 5 cases of oral teratoma presenting from 1980 through 2002. The cases include 5 neonates, 4 girls and 1 boy, with none presenting any family history of teratomas; all were diagnosed at birth. The associated lesions, clinical examination, histopathlogy, treatment, and follow-up data were described and discussed. Results: Associated congenital malformations of the newborns with teratomas included cleft palate, double (bifid) tongue, dorsonasal fistula, and a nasal dermoid cyst. Three of the cases presented with a single pedicle and 2 with a double pedicle, The 5 tumors varied in size fr more...