Walsh & Hoyt: Congenital Neoplasms

Lesions in this category are considered to be neoplasms because of their growth rate and, in some cases, their malignant potential. Congenital neoplasms include germ cell tumors, lipomas, and craniopharyngiomas. Certain neuroectodermal neoplasms are occasionally observed in patients at or shortly after birth (e.g., primitive neuroectodermal tumors). Although these tumors arise from primitive cells that have not, in many cases, followed a normal path to maturation, they are not considered as examples of dysembryogenesis in the sense that the term is used in this chapter.