Benign cervical teratoma in an adult: report of a case

Cervical teratomas are rarely encountered in adults. We report herein the case of a 21-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital for surgical treatment of a neck tumor, 7.5 x 4.5 x 2.7 cm in size, located in the left lower pole of the thyroid. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) revealed a multicystic tumor. The levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC) in the cystic fluid were extremely elevated in contrast to the normal levels found in the serum. The tumor was completely excised and histological examination revealed it to be composed of elements derived from the three germ layers, confirming a diagnosis of benign cystic teratoma.