THE ROENTGEN DIAGNOSIS OF TERATOMA OF THE THYROID REGION

A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

¹ Resident in Radiology, Emory University Clinic
² Associate Professor of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, and Radiologist, Henrietta Egleston Hospital for Children

The presence of a cervical mass in an infant or young child should lead the clinician and roentgenologist to suspect the entity of teratoma of the thyroid region. In addition to briefly presenting 2 new cases, the available English literature was reviewed, tabulating the roentgen findings of those reported cases in which film interpretations were available. Demonstration of calcification within the tumor, when present, is virtually diagnostic of cervical teratoma, having been identified in about 40 per cent of the cases. Distortion of the tracheal air column on the roentgenogram is an even more frequent sign but is much less specific. The roentgen differential diagnosis is presented.

In a general discussion of cervical teratomas, the occurrence, nomenclature, pathologic findings, clinical features, treatment, and prognosis are reviewed. The importance of accurate and early diagnosis is stressed, since failure to surgically remove the teratoma leads to progressive respiratory embarrassment and death.

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