Immature Teratoma of Nasal Septum: A Case Report

Teratomas are neoplastic tumors derived from totipotent germ cells containing a wide assortment of tissues originating from all three germ cell layers. Teratomas can be mature or immature depending on the presence of immature tissues; typically neuroepithelial tissue. Immature teratomas can be oncologically benign or malignant, and can be divided into three grades with increasingly aggressive biological behavior. The most common site for this tumor is the sacrococcygeal region. The nasal septum is an exceptionally rare site for immature teratomas, with very few cases reported.

We discuss a 14-year-old male patient with a left nasal mass which, on histopathological examination, turned out to be a Grade-3 immature teratoma. Imaging revealed the mass to be confined in the left nasal cavity with erosion of the anterior skull base. During endoscopic excision, the tumor was seen extending intracranially but remaining extradurally. Complete resection was achieved, albeit with mild cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, which was closed successfully. The patient was subjected to adjuvant chemotherapy. A regular follow-up of 2 years showed no recurrence.

The purpose of this report is to document the first case of a high-grade immature teratoma arising from the nasal septum with intracranial extension, as well as the efficacy of combined endoscopic resection and adjuvant chemotherapy for this pathology.