Nasopharyngeal Teratoma(Epignathus) -Four Autopsy cases-

Abstract

Four autopsy cases with nasopharyngeal teratoma were presented. Three cases were stillborns and one case survived for five minutes. All four cases showed a bulky protruding mass out of the oral cavity which arose in the hard palate. One case showed the destruction of the skull base and intracranial extension. Microscopically, the masses showed predominantly immature neuroepithelial components and some mature and immature elements of the parenchymal organs, such as liver, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. One of the four cases was associated with unilateral renal agensis. The characteristics and histogenesis of nasopharyngeal teratoma are discussed.