Congenital teratoma of the oral cavity - the largest personal series of cases

The objective of this study is to present the largest personal series of oral teratomas already published in English literature and discuss the diagnosis, neonatal management, and surgical treatment of this disorder.

The study included patients treated by the senior author (RSF) between 2004 and 2023. Data were collected regarding prenatal evaluation, perinatal approach, surgical management, evolution, and treatment of secondary deformities. In addition, we performed a literature review on the topic.

Twelve patients with oral teratoma were included in this study. Seven cases did not have been submitted to any previous treatment, and five cases had already undergone some treatment in another institution. Four cases were diagnosed as epignathus (33.3%), two as true teratomas (16.6%), four as teratoid teratomas (33.3%), one as dermoid teratoma (8.3%) and one as fetus in fetus (8.3%). All patients, except for one, had the tumor surgically removed with good evolution. There was one case of recurrence, successfully operated. The most frequently associated comorbidity was 0–14 fissure, present in 66% of the cases.

The experience of our twelve cases indicates that prenatal diagnosis, associated with good multidisciplinary planning of the delivery care, and complete resection of the masses reveal high success rates in the treatment of this pathology.

This study was performed in line with the principles of the declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Federal University of Paraná − 47102421.2.0000.5225.