case_images: PMC10866183_01
case_images: Preoperative MRI. (A, B) Preoperative sagittal T1 MRI of the lumbar spine showing a heterogeneous lumbar tumor lesion with well-defined borders that modifies the morphology of the L1-L4 vertebral bodies (blue arrows). It presents a ventral hyperintense component, a head tumor with fat tissue (red arrow), and a dorsal hypointense component, a body tumor (yellow arrow). (C) Axial T2 MRI at L3 shows the intradural body component of the tumor occupying the entire diameter of the spinal canal (pink arrow). The head of the teratoma is indicated by the green arrow. The vertebral body corresponds to the orange arrow.. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging, L: lumbar spinal level
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052307-i01.jpg
case_images: PMC10866183_01_cureus-0016-00000052307-i01.jpg
case_images: FIG1
case_images: Imaging evaluation showed a tumor with well-defined borders, heterogeneous composition, with a ventral hyperintense zone that modified the morphology of the L1-L4 vertebral bodies (Figure 1).
case_images: Histopathological findings. (A) Panoramic view of a cyst delineated by stratified epithelium. The cystic wall is composed of tissue derived from the three germinal cell layers (H&E; 4x). (B) Presence of mature cartilage, glands, and stratified epithelium that invaginates and forms dilated tubules (H&E; 4x). (C) Well-formed acini are immersed in adipose tissue (H&E; 10x). (D) Structures similar to Paccinian corpuscules are shown (H&E; 10x). (E) The epithelium is columnar, pseudostratified with cilia, and goblet cells. Some nervous tracts can be seen (H&E; 10x). (F) Acini of apocrine glands within mature adipose tissue (H&E; 10x).. H&E: hematoxylin and eosin
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052307-i02.jpg
case_images: PMC10866183_01_cureus-0016-00000052307-i02.jpg
case_images: FIG2
case_images: The lumbar lesion was sent for neuropathological examination which revealed a mature teratoma as the final diagnosis (Figure 2).
case_images: Postoperative MRI. (A) Postoperative sagittal T2 MRI without residual tumor, with occupation of cerebrospinal fluid in the site where the tumor was located (purple arrow). (B) Postoperative sagittal T2 MRI cauda equina displacement (green arrow).. MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052307-i03.jpg
case_images: PMC10866183_01_cureus-0016-00000052307-i03.jpg
case_images: FIG3
case_images: Postoperative MRI determined total resection of the tumor mass, with the presence of cerebrospinal fluid at the site of the teratoma, as well as displacement of the cauda equina (Figure 3).
case_images: PRISMA flow chart. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow chart.
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case_images: FIG4
case_images: Subsequently, the investigators reached a final agreement on the selected articles to write a discussion focusing on the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, surgical, and prognostic aspects of this pathology (Figure 4).