Benignes zystisches Teratom als Differentialdiagnose einer medianen Zungenfistel

Teratoma of the tongue is a rare tumor of the oral cavity. The case of a benign cystic teratoma of the tongue with a fistula to the dor-sum of the tongue is described here. Teratomas are composed of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm and arise as a result of displacement of primordial germ cells during their course of migration during embryogenesis. In the tongue, the teratoma may arise from misplaced cells from the tuberculum impar during the fourth week of gestation. Diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis and possibilities for a treatment are discussed based on our experience and review of the literature.