Perinatal outcome of sacrococcygeal teratoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome in a cohort of fetuses with isolated sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) in relation to the need for in utero intervention.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of fetuses prenatally diagnosed with SCT between September 2000 and December 2010. Postnatal outcomes were evaluated in relation to the need for intervention in utero by reviewing medical records.

RESULTS: Of the 35 fetuses diagnosed with SCT during the study period, ten were lost to follow up and three had been misdiagnosed as SCT. Among the remaining 22 cases, in utero interventions were performed in eight, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in four, shunt operations in two, RFA plus cyst aspiration in one, and RFA with subsequent shunt operation in one. Tumors of cases undergoing in utero intervention were larger with rapidly growing, more frequently vascular, and with associated polyhydramnios or cardiomegaly. The rate of preterm births was higher in the cases that underwent interventions compared with those that did not (7/8 vs 2/14). Only one tumor showed regression after RFA while the other seven increased in size. Median tumor size at birth was significantly larger in the intervention group than in the nonintervention group (136 mm vs 80 mm). The neonatal survival rate was 6/8 for the prenatal intervention group and 14/14 for the nonintervention group. Resection of SCT was required in all neonates. The most common complication after postnatal surgery was fecal incontinence.

CONCLUSION: Fetuses with SCT undergoing in utero intervention have worse prognostic features, yet their neonatal outcome is similar to those of fetuses not requiring intervention.