Adult intramedullary mature teratoma of the spinal cord: review of the literature illustrated with an unusual example

Abstract

Intramedullary mature teratomas particularly in adults are rarely encountered. In this manuscript the authors have reviewed the adult intramedullary lesions of the spinal cord published in the literature that are harbouring the characteristics of a mature teratoma and analysed the results with respect to histopathology, epidemiology, diagnostic methods and treatment. An illustrative case of an extremely unusual localization is also presented.