Nasopharyngeal epignathus causing nasal airway blocking in a 4-year old child

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R Jund1, A Leunig, H Rohrbach

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Klinikum Grosshadern, München, Germany.

Rhinology
|August 7, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Congenital oral teratoma, a rare epignathus, can present as a nasopharyngeal mass in children. This case highlights the importance of considering teratoma in the differential diagnosis of pediatric nasopharyngeal masses.

Area of Science:

  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Congenital oral teratomas (epignathus) are exceedingly rare, particularly in older children.
  • Nasopharyngeal masses in pediatric patients can present with varied symptoms, often mimicking more common conditions.

Observation:

  • A 4-year-old female presented with nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and recurrent otitis media.
  • Endoscopic examination revealed an irregular, partially mucosa-covered mass within the nasopharynx.
  • MRI (T1-weighted) demonstrated signal characteristics consistent with fat content.

Findings:

  • Histopathological examination confirmed a teratomatous malformation.
  • The mass was identified as a congenital oral teratoma (epignathus).

Implications:

  • Teratomas, though rare, must be included in the differential diagnosis for nasopharyngeal masses in children.
  • Early diagnosis and surgical consideration are crucial for managing congenital teratomas.
  • This case underscores the need for thorough investigation of persistent nasopharyngeal symptoms in pediatric patients.

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