Abstract
Epignathi are congenital malformations, with a high level of mortality due to their obstructive mechanism and respiratory involvement. Most of them are benign; however, cases of malignant epignathus have been described. The possibilities of malignancy increase in the presence of neuroepithelium, an important confounding factor. Epignathus is described in a newborn, besides its clinical and histopathological study. Surgery with complete resection is the definitive treatment. Residual tissue is linked to recurrence, curiously without increasing the risk of malignancy.
Highlights
Teratomas are rare malformations originated in the three embryonic germ layers from pluripotent cells that did not complete migration from allantois to genital ridge during the fourth and fifth weeks of gestation(1)
Teratomas arising from the hard palate, oral mucosa, tongue, and chin, protruding from the oral cavity are called epignathi(1)
We describe a case of surgically treated giant epignathus, with clinical and anatomopathological study
Summary
Teratomas are rare malformations originated in the three embryonic germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) from pluripotent cells that did not complete migration from allantois to genital ridge during the fourth and fifth weeks of gestation(1). Teratomas of the head and neck are uncommon, representing 1%-9% of all teratomas, and generally originate in the cervical region. Teratomas arising from the hard palate, oral mucosa, tongue, and chin, protruding from the oral cavity are called epignathi(1). Their most important complication is the respiratory compromise, presenting high mortality risk associated with upper airway obstruction. Another commonly present clinical manifestation is the difficult deglutition(2). We describe a case of surgically treated giant epignathus, with clinical and anatomopathological study
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