Nasopharyngeal mature teratoma in the newborn

Abstract

Teratomas which originate from two or three germ layers are the most common congenital tumors of the childhood and are usually observed in the sacrococcygeal region. The nasopharynx is a considerably rare localization. Nazopharyngeal tumors may lead to significant findings including apnea, respiratory distress and stridor in newborns. In this study, a female newborn who developed respiratory distress minutes after cesarean delivery was presented. Examination following a difficult intubation and radiological examination revealed presence of a nasopharyngeal mass in the baby who was born at the 30th gestational age from a 30-year old primipar woman. The nasopharyngeal mass was excised and histopathological examination revealed mature teratoma. Although nasopharyngeal teratoma is a benign tumor, it may lead to urgency of airway management in the newborn. In this case presentation, the differential diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal teratoma was discussed in accompaniment with the literature information. (Türk Ped Arş 2014; 49: 257-60).