The detection of their clinical manifestation, the analysis of imaging features and the serum levels of tumor markers help diagnose intracranial teratomas 1).
The patients age, biochemical markers, and patohistological analysis are necessary to confirm the diagnosis 2).
Sometimes may be associated with elevated levels of:
Serum Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
Intracranial teratomas are often seen as large lesions at presentation.
Given their extremely variable histological components, imaging also tends to be heterogeneous, with tumors typically demonstrating a mixture of tissue densities and signal intensity. Fat, if present, is helpful in narrowing the differential.
The majority of intracranial teratomas demonstrate at least some fat and some calcification, which is usually solid / “clump-like” 3) 4)
They usually have cystic and solid components, contributing to an irregular outline. Solid components demonstrate variable enhancement 5)