The Clinical Relevance of Fetal MRI in the Diagnosis of Type IV Cystic Sacrococcygeal Teratoma-A Review

Abstract

The introduction of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has improved the prenatal evaluation of uterine, placental and fetal anatomy. However, its utilization has mostly been restricted to fetal central nervous system anomalies. We review how adjunct fetal MRI was performed and diagnosis of cystic type IV sacrococcygeal teratoma was made. We also discuss the clinical relevance of fetal MRI in differentiating this lesion from other selected abdominal/pelvic cystic malformations and lesions.

Giant Sacrococcygeal Teratoma in New Born: Management of Two Cases in an Underdeveloped Country

“…One of our patients was diagnosed in prenatal period through an obstetric ultrasound. This diagnosis in the neonatal period allowed an early management by intrauterine or neonatal surgery [2,3,5]. The second circumstance of discovery is an emergency delivery of a newborn with sacrococcygeal mass.…”

“…The sacrococcygeal teratomas are multi-tissue tumors composed of varying proportions in tissues from all three germ layers (endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm) [6]. Their frequency of occurrence varies from 1 in 28,500 to 40,000 births and is found more frequently in the female subject with a sex ratio of 1/3 to 1/4 [1,2,3,7,5]. This epidemiological parameter was verified in our study where both cases were reported in female subjects.…”

“…Sacrococcygeal tumor can be discovered in three circumstances. The ideal circumstance is an antenatal diagnosis by ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging [5]. One of our patients was diagnosed in prenatal period through an obstetric ultrasound.…”

“…The treatment of sacrococcygeal tumors is mainly surgical and consists of resection of the tumor with the coccyx [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. This resection in stage I tumors can be made exclusively by perineal incision while a combined abdominal and perineal approach may be necessary for other types [2,3,6].…”

“…Their incidence is estimated to be between 1/35000 and 1/40000 births [1][2][3][4]. Diagnosis and management of these tumors are ideally done in the antenatal period [2,3,5]. Nevertheless, complications including rupture in case of vaginal delivery and degeneration, especially after the age of 4 months of these tumors, are possible [1][2][3].…”