Objectives:
Teratomas are nongernimmatomatous germ cell tumors of the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of central nervous system teratomas.
Materials and Methods:
Central nervous system teratomas were separated according to decades and localization using the United States National Cancer Institute [Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER)] database and demographic data were statistically analyzed retrospectively.
Results:
Four hundred and twenty-two patients diagnosed with teratoma were found in the SEER database. It was determined that 69% (n=293) of the patients had benign and 31% (n=129) had a malignant histological character. 87.6% (n=113/129) of malignant teratomas were detected in the first two decades. 56.7% (n=166/293) of benign teratomas were found in the first 3 decades of life. Among the lobes of the brain, teratomas are most frequently located in the frontal lobe (9.7%). The rate of teratomas in the pineal region was found to be 16.4%.
Conclusion:
Teratomas are frequently seen in the first two decades and approximately two-thirds of all teratomas are benign. While teratomas tend to localize from the brain lobes to the frontal lobe, the most common extra-axial localization is the pineal gland.
Keywords: Germ Cell Tumor, Intracranial Tumor, Pineal Gland, Central Nervous System, Teratoma
