Oropharyngeal epignathus with partial facial duplication: report of a rare case

Abstract

Foetal oral teratoma or epignathus is a rare benign condition that originates in the oropharyngeal region. The term ‘teratoma’ refers to a mass composed of poorly organized tissues derived from each of the three germ layers. Epignathus may occur when one twin ceases development during gestation and becomes vestigial to the fully formed dominant twin. The reported incidence of epignathus is approximately 1:35,000 to 1:200,000 live births. A unique case of partial facial duplication with gross histological and radiological evidence of partial duplication of the facial elements and organs is presented herein. The affected newborn baby underwent urgent surgery due to breathing difficulties. The mass was excised successfully and the infant made an uneventful recovery. The resected specimen included two developing faces, each composed of a developing mandible and maxilla with developing tooth buds. Tissues from all three germ layers were present. In such cases, the treatment option is exclusively surgical, and complete resection is curative in most cases during the early neonatal period.