Review of the prenatally diagnosed ten sacrococcygeal teratomas

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review 10 sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCT) prenatally diagnosed in our Prenatal Diagnostic Center in the last three-years period. STUDY DESIGN: The records of fetal abnormality in the prenatal diagnostic center of our department were reviewed. Autopsy findings of fetuses with SCT terminated before viability (£24 gestational weeks) were obtained from the Department of Pathology. For the fetuses delivered after viability, the records of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery Units were checked. RESULTS: Totally 10 SCT were diagnosed in antenatal period in our unit. Gestational ages of these cases were between 15 and 29 gestational weeks. The sizes of the teratomas were varied between 50x55 and 164x124 mm at the time of diagnosis. Ultrasonographic grades of SCT were 1 in 1 case, 2 in 3 cases, and 3-4 in 6 cases. Six of 10 cases were diagnosed before viability and terminated by vaginal route. Two of the viable fetuses died inutero during follow-up period and delivered by cesarean section (C/S) because of largeness of teratomas. Last two cases were also terminated prematurely by C/S because of increased fetal cardiac load due to teratomas. These two neonates had been operated in Department of Pediatric Surgery. One of them is still alive. CONCLUSION: SCT can be detected easily by prenatal ultrasonography. If SCT is detected after viability, termination time may be decided by close follow-up of pregnancy. The most important criteria for this decision are size of SCT, gestational age and the presence or absence of various prognostic factors in these fetuses.