Challenges in removal of congenital nasopharyngeal teratoma in a 5 day old neonate

Neonatal stridor is a serious condition which poses a challenge in diagnosis and requires immediate evaluation of the underlying etiology. Tumors of the head and neck region are among the more unusual causes of airway obstruction in the neonatal period. Amongst them, nasopharyngeal teratomas are rare entities accounting for less than 10% of all tumours. We present the rare case of a nasopharyngeal teratoma causing inspiratory stridor and critical airway obstruction in a newborn at birth. This tumour was removed successfully using novel coblation technique in a 5 day old neonate managed without even a tracheostomy. We present the challenges faced in diagnosis and surgical management of teratoma at a site with difficult access like nasopharynx in a 5 day old newborn which could be safely and successfully removed using coblation technology.