Aims: To establish the clinical and pathological aspects of teratoma affecting the spinal cord.
Method and results: We reviewed our neurosurgical records for the last 15 years and found seven cases of teratoma of the spinal cord. The cases were reviewed clinically, radiologically and pathologically using immunohistochemical markers to identify various tissue components. We found that spinal cord teratoma is an extremely rare tumour of spinal cord affecting patients aged 23-47 years and of approximately equal male to female distribution. The terminal portions of spinal cord and intradural location of the tumour are common. Three cases were associated with vertebral anomaly. Most tumours showed benign (mature) components derived from more than one germ cell layer; one showed malignant adenocarcinomatous component. All cases were treated by surgical resection and two recurred at 6 and 10 year intervals without malignant transformation.
Conclusion: Spinal cord teratoma is a rare, mainly benign tumour, which could be associated with vertebral anomaly. The pathogenesis of this tumour is controversial, possibly due to germinal cell aberration.