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[Teratoma in the cerebellar hemisphere of an infant]
M Aibe1, T Hirano, I Takeshita
1Department of Pediatrics, Kyushu Rosai Hospital, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka.
Insights
This case report details a rare cerebellar teratoma in an infant, presenting with seizures and hydrocephalus. Surgical removal was successful, highlighting the importance of considering rare tumor locations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Neuro-oncology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Intracranial teratomas are germ cell tumors often found in the supratentorial region.
- While common in neonates, teratomas in the cerebellar hemisphere are exceptionally rare.
- Cerebellar tumors can present with varied neurological symptoms including seizures and hydrocephalus.
Observation:
- A 4-month-old infant presented with a 5-day history of vomiting and a left-sided tonic-clonic seizure.
- Neuroimaging revealed severe hydrocephalus and a calcified tumor in the left cerebellar hemisphere.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) demonstrated right hemispheric abnormalities post-seizure.
Findings:
- The infant underwent emergency surgery for complete tumor resection.
- Histopathological analysis confirmed the tumor as an immature teratoma.
- This represents a rare instance of an infant cerebellar hemisphere teratoma.
Implications:
- This case underscores the need for broad differential diagnoses in pediatric neurological emergencies.
- Early surgical intervention is crucial for managing symptomatic intracranial teratomas.
- Further research into the specific etiology and behavior of cerebellar teratomas is warranted.
Abstract:
We report here a 4-month-old male infant with a cerebellar teratoma. After vomiting for 5 days, he had a tonic-clonic seizure on the left showing secondary generalization. Neuroimaging studies showed severe hydrocephalus and a large tumor in the left cerebellar hemisphere, which showed calcification. Postictal scalp electroencephalogram showed right hemispheric spikes and spike-waves. He underwent an emergency operation and had the tumor totally removed. Histological diagnosis of the tumor was immature teratoma. Intracranial teratomas have a predilection for supratentorial and midline sites. They are the most common in the neonatal period. We presented a very rare case of teratoma in the cerebellar hemisphere of an infant.