IMMATURE TERATOMA PRESENTING WITH LIFE THREATENING AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION IN NEWBORN- A CASE REPORT

Teratoma originates from multipotent germ cells and consists of all 3 embryological germ layers. It is commonly seen in sacrococcygeal region and is very rarely seen in head and neck region of a neonate. It is even rarer for a cervical teratoma to present as a swelling in the lateral aspect of neck causing airway obstruction. This presentation is about a boy baby who had a large cervical teratoma on the left side of neck with severe respiratory compromise due to the pressure effect. Airway was secured with great difficulty. In spite of good surgical excision of tumour, respiratory failure progressed and the child succumbed. Histopathology of tumour revealed immature teratoma—grade III.