A ten-year review revealed a similarity in the incidence of teratoma in relation to other childhood tumors in Malaysian as compared with Caucasian children. The most common sites of origin were the sacrococcygeal, gonadal, and retroperitoneal areas. The reason for the high incidence of retroperitoneal tumor in our series as compared with other countries is not clear. Late presentation and poor followup are associated with poor prognosis.
Cancer 46:630-632, 1980.
ERATOMAS are a heterogenous group of tumors T in childhood which may be benign, potentially malignant, or malignant , depending on their evolutionary characteristics and site or organ of origin. They account for 3 -5% of all childhood tumor^^'^ and usually arise either in the midline of the body or in the gonads.
Thus far, no study has been carried out in Malaysian children and little is known of the epidemiologic, clinical, or pathologic features as compared with Caucasian children. This study reviews the epidemiologic, clinical, and pathologic features and the response to treatment in children with teratoma seen at