Adult Benign Mature Teratoma as an Unusual Presentation in the Neck - Abstract
Teratomas are embryonal tumours that emerge when totipotent germ cells evades the developmental control of primary organizers and give rise to tumours with tissue from all three blastodermic layers. Adult teratomas of the neck are very uncommon. It often causes a localised mass effect by extending from the neck to the thoracic cavity. However, there are just a few documented
occurrences of adult-onset teratomas in the literature. Infants are far more likely than adults to have cervical teratomas, and adult teratomas have a higher malignant potential than paediatric cases. Cervical teratomas can grow to gigantic sizes and restrict airways. Surgery is the main form of treatment as malignant change takes place.
Here, we provide a case of a benign neck teratoma in an adult female patient. Even though adult cervical teratomas are incredibly uncommon, they should be taken into consideration as a key differential diagnosis in anyone experiencing midline cystic neck swelling. Radiological preoperative investigations demand a high degree of scepticism. Complete surgical resection is advised.