Abstract

The retroperitoneal teratoma is a rare congenital childhood tumor, which comprises about 5% of all childhood teratomas above the pelvis. This may be either uni-or bilateral, and about 15% of all retroperitoneal teratomas have a malignant component. Authors observed a case of congenital retroperitoneal teratoma, that was found at the autopsy of female stillbirth who died during the delivery at pregnancy 37 weeks due to fetal distress apparently because of protruding abdomen. The fetus had a larger abdominal circumference(44 cm) than the head circumference (28 cm). At autopsy a large abdominal retroperitonial tumor, measuring 15×13×8cm in size and 650gm in weight with overlying the transverse colon was found. Abdominal organs such as the liver, spleen, and intestine were displaced laterally by the tumor. Grossly the tumor was a relatively solid, yellowish, lobulated mass intermixed with soft white-grey tissue, cartilage, and cysts contains jelly like material. Microscopically the tumor was composed of mature elements of ectodermal, endodermal, and mesodermal origins with some immature tissue of neuroepitherial elements.