Introduction
Teratomas are extra gonadal germ cell tumours, which can be mature and immature in nature. Mature teratomas are benign and slow growing. They can contain hair, nails, teeth, muscle, bone salivary glands, thyroid tissue, pancreas tissue etc. They are commonly seen in sacrococcygeal region and rarely seen in nasopharynx. Mature nasopharyngeal teratomas can press on surrounding structures without invading them. Diagnosis can be made perinatally using 3D USG, to aptly manage the respiratory obstruction caused by them. In adults CT and MRI should be done, to differentiate it from other masses and plan surgical excision.
Case Report
A 15 year old female patient came to ENT OPD with complaints of bilateral nasal obstruction since one month. On self-examination in mirror patient also noticed a mass in her throat one month back. There was no other significant positive history. On local examination, a solitary well defined cystic mass with hair was seen on left side of oropharynx, of size approximately 2cm x 1cm (Figure 1).
On performing diagnostic nasal endoscopy using a zero degree rigid endoscope, mass was seen arising from posterior wall of nasopharynx, just below the septum and grade 2 adenoid hypertrophy was seen (Figure 2). X-ray nasopharynx lateral view showed soft tissue shadow in nasopharynx (Figure 3). Non contrast CT of paranasal sinuses showed a cystic mass arising from posterior-lateral wall of nasopharynx (Figure 5, Figure 4).
Excision of the mass was done via trans-oral route (Figure 7, Figure 6) under general anaesthesia and specimen was sent for histopathological study (Figure 8). Histopathology report showed a cyst lined by stratified squamous epithelium, consisting of mature hyaline cartilage, hair follicles, pilosebaceous units, salivary gland and lymphomononuclear cells, suggesting of mature benign cystic teratoma.
Discussion
Teratomas are tumours which are derived from the three embryonic germ layers- endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. They can be solid, semi-cystic and cystic in nature. Prevalence of teratoma is 1 in 4000 new-borns.1 They are most commonly seen in sacrococcygeal region. Head and neck teratomas constitute 6-10% of all teratomas.3, 2 Sacrococcygeal teratomas usually present in first two months of life.4 Nasopharyngeal teratoma can lead to difficulty in breathing at birth or can rarely present later in life with nasal obstruction, depending on size of the mass.5 Teratomas can be mature or immature. Mature teratomas contain well-formed tissues derived from the three germ layers. Can contain hair, teeth, nails, muscle, cartilage, bone, salivary gland, thyroid, liver pancreas etc. teratomas occur due to error in embryonic migration.7, 6 They are also believed to form due to activation of genetic codes in normal cells.7 Three dimensional ultrasonography is the investigation of choice for congenital teratomas. It is important to rule out this condition perinatally to anticipate and plan for the possibility of respiratory distress in new-borns.9, 8, 2 In adults they can present with nasal obstruction, obstruction of pharyngeal opening of Eustachian tube, dysphagia etc., bases on the size and site of the tumour. CT and MRI should be done in adults, to differentiate it from other nasopharyngeal masses, to see intracranial extension and to plan for surgery.11, 10 Other possible masses in nasopharynx can be Thornwaldt cyst, H airy polyp, Papilloma, A denomatous polyp, Schwannoma, Dermoid, Pleomorphic adenoma, rhabdomysarcoma. As for treatment, they should be excised completely, without leaving any remnants to avoid recurrence and patient should be kept in follow up.1
