Cystic mature teratoma of the filum terminale in an adult. Case report and review of the literature

Intradural spinal teratoma is a very rare entity, more prevalent in childhood, that may associate with dysraphic defects. The authors report a 46 years old man with a cauda equina syndrome and an L1-2 tumor. An L1-2 laminectomy was performed and a mass was resected at the base of the filum terminale, which was in contact with the conus medullaris. Histopathological diagnosis was of cystic mature teratoma. Spinal teratomas may be found anywhere along the spine, but are more frequent in the cauda equina. We discuss the origin of these tumors and review the literature concerning these lesions.