Rapidly growing brain tumor in a newborn considered to be teratoma: A rare case report

Teratomas constitute approximately 0.2% of all intracranial tumors.[1] They mostly occur in children during the first decade and grow frequently in the midline region.[3] Here, we report a rare case of posterior fossa immature teratoma in a 10 days old newborn delivered by normal vaginal delivery who presented with progressive enlargement of head. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study showed a large mixed solid cystic lesion with in bilateral hemisphere posterior to third ventricle and in posterior fossa with obstructive hydrocephalus. Cerebrospinal fluid revealed marked elevation of the alpha-fetoprotein level and mild increase of the human chorionic gonadotropin level, strongly suggestive of teratoma. His activity began to deteriorate on postnatal day 18 and he died of respiratory distress on the 21st day of life.