We recently experienced a case of teratoma of the thyroid gland in a 20-day-old
female infant, who admitted to HYUH on March 6, 1978, due to a hen-egg sized
palpable firm mess on left side of the neck from at birth without complaint of any
symptoms of respiratory or swallowing difficulties.
In microscopic examination of the excised tumor from patient, we found a potion of
mature thyroid follicles in subcapsular area of the tumor, which shows pressure atrophy
due to underlying growing tumor, and many kinds of tissues derived from three germ
layers with predominant neurogenic tissues such as neuroblasts forming rosettes, glial
cells, choroid plexus, and retinal anlages. From the findings of anatomic position of the
tumor, histologic relation to the thyroid gland, microscopic feature of the tumor, and
postoperative thyroid scanning, we diagnosed this tumor as true teratoma of the thyroid
gland originated from left lobe of the thyroid gland. This is probable the first case of
teratoma of the thyroid gland reporting in Korea.
Teratomas of the neck are rare, and slightly more than 100 cases are reported up to
date. They occur predominantly under the age of one. Teratomas of the neck arising in
infant and child are almost benign except for three cases in the literature. Five cases
arising in adult are malignant except for a case of recurrent infant benign teratoma. All
varieties of tissues derived from three germ layers with predominance of brain tissue
are found in the tumor. There has been disagreement in the classification of cervical
teratoma for long time, and it is impossible to say with certainty whether the tumor
originates from the thyroid gland or from the adjacent cervical tissue. For clinical
evaluation of the tumor, it can be classified as a teratoma of the thyroid gland and a
teratoma in the region of the thyroid gland, based on the criteria proposed by Silterman
et al. The choice of treatment of cervical teratoma is early surgical removal of the
tumor. The prognosis in the immediate postoperative period is excellent, and operative
mortality is very low. All cased not received surgical treatment died of respiratory
distress. Prolonged follow-up study is needed to establish the long-range prognosis in
these patients.
We reviewed literature of the teratoma of the neck and discussed on its incidence,
classification, pathologic findings, the value of surgical operation, prognosis, and the
necessity of long term follow-up Study.
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