[A case of multiple teratomas combined with embryonal carcinoma]

It is rare to find primary multiple teratomas among intracranial tumors. We report a case of multiple teratomas combined with embryonal carcinoma. A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of loss of appetite and emaciation. Neurological examination was negative except bilateral optic nerve atrophy and generalized hyperreflexia. The endocrinological study showed panhypopituitarism and partial DI. CT scan revealed irregularly enhanced abnormal masses involving suprasellar cistern and the septum pellucidum. The tumors were removed by the transcallosal approach, and the histopathological study showed mature teratoma which contained cartilage, epithelium of GI tract, ciliated epithelium, smooth muscle, fat tissue. Within the tumor of the septum pellucidum, nests of markedly pleomorphic epithelial tumor cells with necrosis, nuclear pleomorphism and mitosis were identified, embryonal carcinoma. At necropsy, no carcinomatous lesions were identified in other organs. Multiple teratomas from nonmetastatic, separate origins have been rate by reported in the literature. In our case, histologically, the mass in the suprasellar cistern was diagnosed as mature teratoma and the mass of the septum pellucidum was mature teratoma combined with embryonal carcinoma. It seemed likely that each of the tumors was developed from different origins.