"Teratomas are characterised by a mixture of different tissues (e.g. fat, muscle, bone) and structures (cysts, solid components, recognisable structures) and may be located within the theca and/or extra-thecally, in which case they may protrude out of the neural exit foramina 1."
"Care must be taken to distinguish spinal dermoid cysts from spinal teratomas. The former is purely ectodermal in origin, but contains secondary skin appendages (e.g. sebum). Teratomas must contain tissues arising from at least two of the three embryonic layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm). Confusion arises thanks to the unhelpful use of the word dermoid cyst in the pelvis to actually denote a mature cystic teratoma."
"Clinical presentation is non-specific and is the result of mass effect on the adjacent spinal cord and nerves. As these lesions are usually located in the lower thoracic cord and conus, weakness and numbness of the lower limbs is most common 1."