Congenital nasopharyngeal teratoma (epignathus) with airway obstruction, report a case

Background:Teratoma of the head & neck are rare, mostly benign neoplasm, usually presenting in theneonatal period with frequency of less than 5%of the total 1in 4000 live birth. Nasopharynx isthe second most common location of the head & neck teratoma.We would like to report a case of rapidly growing Epignathus associated with airwayobstruction & feeding problem.Case report:A 40 day old male neonate was admitted with severe respiratorydistress & nasopharyngeal mass protrude to the oral cavity prevented oral feeding.MRI of thehead & neck revealed solid cystic mass with nasopharyngeal origin without intracranialextension.mass was resected surgically & pathology revealed a teratoma dominantlycomposed of mature neuroglial elemets.Conclusion:Nasopharyngeal teratoma are interesting because of their obscure origin & unusual clinicalpresentation .Surgical resection is the treatment of choice & should be urgently in the case ofairway obstruction.