A rare case of intracranial teratocarcinosarcoma: Case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Teratocarcinosarcoma (TCS) is a rare malignant neoplasm with epithelial and mesenchymal components such as fibroblasts, cartilage, bone and smooth muscle. With less than 100 total reported cases, this malignant neoplasm is rarely encountered by neurosurgeons because it primarily involves the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 55-year-old male with chronic frontal headaches was found to have a frontal mass with involvement of nasal sinus and right ethmoid sinus. The patient underwent preoperative embolization of tumor followed by bilateral frontal craniotomy for near total resection of the tumor. Patient did well postoperatively without new neurological deficits. CONCLUSION: Although cases with intracranial involvement are scarce, treatment with surgical resection with or without adjuvant treatments of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the most widely accepted with goal for gross total resection. In our case, we achieved near total resection and the patient continues to do well without any gross neurological deficits.