Abstract
Epignathus or oro-pharyngeal teratoma is an extremely rare, benign congenital tumor,
occurring in 1 in 35,000–200,000 live births. They usually arise from the sphenoid
region of the hard palate, posterior nasopharynx, upper lip and nose, soft palate,
tonsil or tongue. The typical appearance is that of a solid irregular mass containing
both cystic and solid elements, protruding from the oral cavity. Their occurrence
in the first trimester is extremely rare. We report a case of fetal immature orofacial
teratoma detected in the first trimester and confirmed with histopathological diagnosis.
The index pregnancy presented at 13 1/7 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound examination
demonstrated an irregular, mixed echogenic mass with solid and cystic components protruding
from the fetal mouth, between the tongue and the palate. Following extensive counselling,
the couple opted for termination of the pregnancy. Histopathological examination confirmed
the tumor to be an immature oral teratoma.
Keywords
Epignathus - Oropharyngeal teratoma - Fetal immature teratoma - Fetal tumors - Early
target scan
