Case report and literature review describes imaging features of fetal oral cavity immature teratoma

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 8, 2026 Medically reviewed May 8, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Note specific imaging features of fetal oral cavity immature teratoma in this case report.

This source is a case report and literature review focusing on a single fetus with an immature teratoma located in the oral cavity. The authors utilize multimodal imaging to characterize the lesion and compare it with other oral masses. The review aims to clarify the clinical and imaging features associated with this specific disease presentation.

The primary imaging manifestation involved a large solid-cystic mass protruding from the fetal oropharynx that was closely related to the maxilla and skull base. CT findings demonstrated heterogeneous density within the tumor, featuring a predominantly cystic appearance and punctate calcifications within the solid component. MRI findings revealed an irregular solid-cystic mass in the oropharyngeal region with low signal intensity on T1WI, internal areas of mixed signal intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI, and restricted diffusion within the solid components.

Pathological examination confirmed Grade III immature teratoma with concurrent right temporal arachnoid cyst and meningocele. The authors acknowledge that this is a rare condition and that concurrent intracranial abnormalities are uncommon. Safety data, adverse events, and discontinuations were not reported. The authors caution against inferring causation from imaging features alone and against overstating the frequency of concurrent intracranial abnormalities.

The practice relevance of this work lies in improving the level of diagnostic proficiency for this disease. Clinicians should recognize these specific imaging characteristics when evaluating fetal oral masses. The review does not provide data on treatment outcomes or long-term follow-up.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

ObjectiveTo explore the imaging characteristics of immature teratoma in fetal oral cavity and enhance the diagnostic and differential diagnostic ability for this condition.MethodsThe clinical, pathological, and imaging features of a case of immature teratoma occurring in a fetus were analyzed. A systematic literature review was conducted, and prior cases were summarized in a comparative table to identify patterns and knowledge gaps.ResultsImaging manifestations of fetal oral cavity immature teratoma included: (1) A large solid-cystic mass protruding from the fetal oropharynx, closely related to the maxilla and skull base; (2) CT revealed heterogeneous density within the tumor, with a predominantly cystic appearance and punctate calcifications within the solid component—a feature more commonly associated with immature teratomas; (3) MRI demonstrated an irregular solid-cystic mass in the lesion’s oropharyngeal region, with low signal intensity on T1WI, internal areas of mixed signal intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI, and restricted diffusion (high DWI signal) within the solid components, corresponding to immature neuroepithelial elements on histopathology. Pathological examination confirmed a Grade III immature teratoma with concurrent right temporal arachnoid cyst and meningocele.ConclusionImmature teratoma occurring in the fetal oral cavity is a rare condition. Multimodal imaging with systematic description of tumor location, composition, calcification, and mass effect enables accurate prenatal diagnosis and differentiation from other oral masses. Concurrent intracranial abnormalities, though uncommon, warrant thorough evaluation. Understanding its clinical and imaging features can improve the level of diagnostic proficiency for this disease.