Paraplegia in children with malignant teratoma.

Two young children presenting with paraplegia secondary to epidural tumors were found to have unresectable malignant teratomas. Following partial resection and aggressive chemotherapy, both patients have done extremely well with disappearance of all disease and dramatic improvement in neurologic function. It is suggested that children with spinal cord compression might have a much better prognosis for recovery of neurologic function than adults. A treatment approach utilizing chemotherapy as the primary mode of therapy is discussed.