Multiple intraoral teratoma in a newborn infant: epignathus

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Epignathus, a rare oral teratoma, originates from the oral cavity.
• Congenital anomalies like cleft palate can present with complex intraoral masses.
• Multiple localized epignathus in neonates is exceptionally rare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of multiple epignathus in a newborn.
• To describe the clinical presentation and management of this rare condition.
• To contribute to the literature on congenital oral teratomas and associated anomalies.

Main Methods:

• Surgical excision of intraoral masses.
• Histopathological examination for diagnosis.
• Clinical assessment of a neonate with cleft palate and oral masses.

Main Results:

• An 11-day-old male newborn presented with bilateral intraoral masses and cleft palate.
• One mass protruded from the right side of the mouth; another extended from the nasopharynx to the oropharynx.
• Histopathological study confirmed the diagnosis of mature teratoma.

Conclusions:

• Multiple epignathus co-occurring with cleft palate in a newborn is a novel finding.
• This case underscores the importance of thorough evaluation of neonates with congenital oral anomalies.
• Further research may elucidate the embryological basis for such complex presentations.