Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in a Pediatric Intra- and Paravertebral Teratoma

Abstract

A 7-year-old boy presented with a 1-year history of back pain radiating to his left scapula and arm, with tenderness to palpation over the area. Laboratory studies were unremarkable. Computed tomographic scan showed a mixed lytic and sclerotic process at the T5-T6 level of the vertebral column in continuity with an adjacent paravertebral soft tissue mass. Nuclear medicine scan demonstrated increased uptake in the T5 vertebral body. Histology revealed invasive squamous cell carcinoma infiltrating mature, gliotic neural tissue, with areas of necrosis and prominent perivascular space involvement. Associated vertebral fragments showed bone destruction, reactive bone formation, and fibrosis. By immunohistochemistry, the carcinoma cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, cytokeratin 5/6, EMA, and MIC-2 (membranous staining). The mature neural tissue was positive for GFAP; immature neural elements were not identified. Based on morphologic, immunohistochemical, and clinical features, this lesion was diagnosed as invasive squamous cell carcinoma arising within an intravertebral and paravertebral teratoma.