# Mature Spinal Teratoma: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 76-year-old woman with a rare spinal teratoma underwent surgery, and the tumor was confirmed as a mature teratoma with no malignant components.

## Contribution

This case report presents a rare instance of a mature spinal teratoma in an elderly patient and its successful surgical management.

## Key findings

- The lesion was identified as a mature teratoma based on histopathological findings.
- The patient experienced no neurological deficits post-surgery.
- At six months post-surgery, the patient had persistent paresthesia but no motor weakness.

## Abstract

We presented an unusual case of a teratoma in a 76-year-old female who began four years ago with paresthesias and hypoesthesias in the sacral and gluteal regions. She denied weakness or gait instability. The magnetic resonance imaging showed an intradural lesion within the cauda equina at levels L2-L3. We decided to perform a posterior midline approach to the lumbar region to expose L2-L3 levels. After doing the L2-L3 laminectomy and the durotomy, we found a solid lesion surrounded by nerve roots with heterogeneous content. Through the meticulous separation of the nerve roots surrounding the lesion, we punctioned it, observing the exit of melanocytic material. Histopathological findings showed germinal neoplasia without immature neuroepithelium or malignant component; therefore, the diagnosis of mature teratoma was made. The patient was discharged without any aggregate neurological deficit. At the six-month follow-up visit, the patient continued with paresthesia in the gluteal region without motor weakness and reported minimal gait improvement.