[Intramedullary spinal teratoma].

We treated 5 cases of intradullary spinal teratomas from 1974 to 1995, accounting 0.636% of all intraspinal tumors and 45.45% of all teratomas of spinal cord admitted in the same time. The origin of this tumor is controversial. It is not easy to differentiate this tumors from other intramedullary spinal tumors on clinical grounds. CT and MR scans of this tumor enabled us to make the preoperative diagnosis of teratoma. Resection is the only treatment of choice.