Neonatal airway obstruction caused by rapidly growing nasopharyngeal teratoma.

Abstract

A case report is presented of a rapidly growing congenital nasopharyngeal teratoma (epignathus) in a preterm infant, leading to severe upper airway obstruction. Prenatal diagnosis by ultrasonography did not reveal the condition because the tumour masses were initially small and there was no polyhydramnios. Epignathus is a rare cause of upper airway obstruction of the newborn that can grow rapidly in the neonatal period and should be treated surgically. CONCLUSION: Epignathus is a rare cause of upper airway obstruction of the newborn that can grow rapidly in the neonatal period.