Abstract
Thirty-six cases teratoma in children were treated in our hospital of which 26 cases were of benign. The problems on the diagnosis and treatment of these benign teratomas according to primary site were evaluated. 1. All of the 3 cases occured in the neck were of benign. One of them was a huge teratoma noticed since birth, grew rapidly and needed the urgent operation. 2. Three mediastinal teratomas were 12, 12 and 13-year-old and all the cases were benign. CT was most useful to make a diagnosis of mediastinal teratoma. 3. Six out of seven cases of retroperitoneal teratoma were benign. The youngest case was 3-month-old and it was found to be fetus in fetus after operation. Retroperitoneal mass developed in adrenal region needed to be differentiated from neuroblastoma by US, CT and tumor markers. 4. Four cases of benign ovarian teratoma had abdominal pain and abdominal mass. Calcification on the x-ray films and mixed pattern of cystic, solid mass and calcification on the US or CT films were very important findings of teratomas. 5. Nine cases of 13 sacrococcygeal teratomas were benign. There was no case beyond 2-year-old. It was necessary to measure AFP for differentiation benign type from malignant type.
