A review of pregnancies complicated by congenital sacrococcygeal teratoma in the West Midlands region over an 18-year period: population-based, cohort study

Variability in Surveillance Strategies Following Resection of Sacrococcygeal Teratoma

INTRODUCTION

Surveillance following sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) resection varies. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing SCT resection and examine current institutional practices to detect recurrence.

METHODS

A single-institution retrospective review of children who underwent resection of an SCT from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020 was performed. Data were summarized and surveillance strategies compared between histopathologic subtypes using nonparametric methods.

RESULTS

Thirty six patients (75.0% female) underwent SCT removal at a median age of 8 d. Histopathology revealed 27 mature teratomas (75.0%), eight immature teratomas (22.2%), and one malignant germ cell tumor (2.8%). Median postoperative follow-up was 3.17 y (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.31-4.38 y). Patients had a median of 2.32 clinic visits per year (IQR: 2.00-2.70), alpha-fetoprotein levels were obtained at a median of 2.01 times per year (IQR: 0-1.66), and surveillance imaging was performed at a median of 2.31 times per year (IQR: 0-2.84). Patients with immature teratomas had alpha-fetoprotein laboratories obtained more frequently than patients with mature teratomas (3.10 times/year versus 0.93 times/year, P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the number of imaging studies obtained between groups. Two patients (5.6%) developed recurrence, which were identified on magnetic resonance imaging at 191 and 104 d postresection, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative surveillance practices varied widely. Recurrence was noted in a single malignant case in the first year following resection. Multi-institutional studies are needed to determine the optimal surveillance strategy to detect recurrence of SCT.

The ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) strategy for fetal giant sacrococcygeal teratoma with cardiac insufficiency: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Antenatally diagnosed sacrococcygeal teratoma has been associated with risks of perinatal complications and death, especially when the foetus has symptoms of cardiac insufficiency, hydrops or anemia in utero; however, the method of intervention remains controversial.

CASE

A 25-year-old pregnant woman was found to have a cystic and solid tumor in the fetal sacrococcygeal region at 16 weeks of gestation. As the tumour grew, the mother developed polyhydramnios accompanied with gestational diabetes. Fetal and tumorous hemodynamics were closely monitored by ultrasound. Abnormal cardiac function was detected at 31 weeks' gestation, and we creatively performed pre-emptive delivery through the ex-utero intrapartum treatment with debulking. The teratoma was removed with utero-placental circulation support. The operation proceeded smoothly with favourable prognosis for both mother and newborn.

CONCLUSION

The ex-utero intrapartum treatment may improve the prognosis for fetuses with heart failure when they reach viable gestation.

A Clinical Analysis of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Fetal Sacrococcygeal Teratomas

Objective

The present study aims to discuss the clinical features, treatment, and prognosis of fetal sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) to improve the standard of diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

The clinical data of 15 pregnant females with fetal SCT, admitted to Fujian  Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January 2013 to January 2020, were retrospectively analyzed with respect to clinical characteristics, imaging features, complications, treatment options, and pregnancy outcomes.

Results

The 15 cases of fetal SCT were all detected by color ultrasonography. There were two cases of cystic tumors and 13 cases of solid cystic tumors. In terms of tumor blood supply, there was one case without blood flow signal, eight cases with little blood flow signal, and six cases with abundant blood flow. At the time of delivery, there were two cases with a tumor diameter less than 5 cm, five cases with a diameter of 5−10 cm, and eight cases with a diameter of more than 10 cm. In terms of tumor shape and location, there were two cases of type I, ten cases of type II, and three cases of type III. There were six cases with an increased fetal heart to chest ratio, four cases of fetal edema, three cases of placental edema, four cases of excessive amniotic fluid, one case of insufficient amniotic fluid, three cases of fetal distress, one case of stillbirth, two cases of gestational diabetes mellitus, two cases of mirror syndrome, and two cases of postpartum hemorrhage. According to the pathological diagnosis, there were seven cases of mature teratoma, seven cases of immature teratoma, and one case of mixed germ cell tumor. There were six cases of induced delivery, nine cases of cesarean section, one case of premature birth, and two cases of mild neonatal asphyxia.

Conclusion

Fetal SCT was generally diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. The tumor blood supply, growth rate, size, nature of the tumor, clinical type, pathology, and maternal-fetal complications are all closely correlated with the prognosis. The timing and manner of the termination of pregnancy should be determined on the basis of the pregnant female, the fetus, and the tumor.

Malignant recurrence after mature Sacrococcygeal teratoma: A meta-analysis and review of the literature

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a rare extragonadal germ cell tumour mostly diagnosed during infancy and early childhood. Neonatal SCTs are mostly mature, but can also contain immature and/or malignant components. Recurrence of an SCT alters prognosis, especially when it is malignant, of which its mechanism is not yet fully understood. This study is a review and meta-analysis of the literature on malignant recurrences after an initially mature SCT.

METHODS

A literature search was performed to identify studies describing children with SCT and presenting specific information on histology of the initial tumour as well as the recurrence. Random effect models for mature recurrence and malignant recurrence after an initially mature SCT were employed to pool study-specific percentages in order to estimate an overall percentage and its associated 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Inverse variance method, which gives more weight to larger studies, was used to pool outcomes for the different studies.

RESULTS

A total of 22 articles, comprising 1516 patients with SCT, were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled proportions of mature and malignant recurrences after mature SCT were 3 % (95 % CI 1-4 %) and 5% (95 % CI 3-6 %), respectively. Fifty-seven (56 %) of a total of 102 recurrences after resection of an initially mature SCT were malignant, mostly yolk sac tumour (YST). Many recurrences occurred within 1-6 years, however some occurred as long as 20 years after initial diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial number of recurrences of mature SCT present as a malignant tumour. Overlooking malignant components on initial pathological evaluation and the progression of mature SCT cells to malignant cells may play a role. Treatment of mature SCTs with resection alone requires thorough follow-up of at least 6 years. Future research is needed to determine whether SCTs with malignant microfoci should be treated or followed-up differently from mature or immature SCTs. In addition, the value of serum biomarkers in follow-up after SCT needs to be further evaluated.

Evaluation of prenatally diagnosed fetal sacrococcygeal teratomas: A case series of seventeen pregnancies from South-central Turkey

Objective

To evaluate sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) cases according to associated cardiac, extracardiac, and chromosomal anomalies in the prenatal period, and to review their outcomes.

Materials and Methods

Data of pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of SCT between 2009 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

One ongoing pregnancy was excluded. There were five medically terminated cases, three due to severe heart failure and the remaining two due to additional congenital defects. Two infants who had heart failure due to hyperdynamic flow died in the neonatal period. Nine infants are well and alive at the time of writing.

Conclusion

When a lesion is detected in the sacrococcygeal region during fetal sonography, the differential diagnosis should be made with an appropriate evaluation with emphasis on a possible diagnosis of fetal SCT. Tumor growth and heart failure should be monitored with serial scans when SCT has been diagnosed prenatally.

Functional outcome and health-related quality of life in patients with sacrococcygeal teratoma - a Swedish multicenter study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to evaluate bowel and urinary tract function, to identify predictors for dysfunctional outcome and to evaluate health-related quality-of life (QoL) in patients treated for sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCT).

METHODS

Medical records of patients with SCT born between 1985 and 2015 treated at three Swedish pediatric surgical centers were reviewed. Questionnaires regarding urinary tract function, bowel function and QoL were sent to patients and parents. Different QoL instruments were used for the different age groups.

RESULTS

Totally 85 patients were identified. Four patients died in the neonatal period. Forty-nine patients answered the questionnaires (60%). Median age at follow-up was 8.9 years (range 3.6-28.8). Bowel dysfunction was reported by 36% and urinary tract dysfunction by 46% of the patients. Univariate analysis revealed that urinary tract dysfunction correlated with gestational age (p = 0.018) and immature histology (p = 0.008), and bowel dysfunction correlated with gestational age (p = 0.016) and tumor size (p = 0.042). Low gestational age was an independent predictor for both urinary tract and bowel dysfunction. Good or very good QoL was reported by 56% of children aged 4-7 years, 90% of children aged 8-17 years and 67% of the adults.

CONCLUSION

Although a considerable proportion of bowel and urinary tract dysfunction was found, the reported QoL was good in a majority of the patients with SCT. Low gestational age was found to be a predictor for bowel- and urinary tract dysfunction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Percutaneous Intratumor Laser Ablation for Fetal Sacrococcygeal Teratoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficiency of percutaneous intratumor laser ablation for fetal solid sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We carried out percutaneous ultrasound-guided intratumor laser ablation through a 17-gauge needle using an output of 40 W in 7 fetuses with large solid SCT and reviewed the literature for minimally invasive therapy for this condition.

RESULTS

Laser ablation was carried out at a median gestational age of 20 (range 19-23) weeks, and in all cases there was elimination of obvious vascularization within the tumor and improvement in cardiac function. Three (43%) babies survived and had surgical excision of the tumor within 2 days of birth, 3 liveborn babies died within 5 days of birth and before surgery, and 1 fetus died within 2 weeks after the procedure. In previous series of various percutaneous interventions for predominantly solid SCT the survival rate was 33% (2/6) (95% CI 9.7-70%) for endoscopic laser to superficial vessels, 57% (4/7) (95% CI 25-84%) for intratumor laser, 67% (8/12) (95% CI 39-86%) for intratumor radiofrequency ablation, and 20% (1/5) (95% CI 3.6-62%) for intratumor injection of alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

In solid SCT, the reported survival from intratumor laser or radiofrequency ablation is about 50%, but survival does not mean success, and it remains uncertain whether such interventions are beneficial or not because the number of fetuses is small and there were no controls that were managed expectantly.

Risk factors for perioperative mortality and transfusion in sacrococcygeal teratoma resections

BACKGROUND

Sacrococcygeal teratomas are a common congenital tumor. Surgical resection can occur in utero, in the neonatal period, or in the postneonatal period.

AIMS

We describe patient and tumor factors associated with mortality and transfusion in this population.

METHODS

We did a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent sacrococcygeal teratoma resection between January 1998 and March 2016. Demographic data, transfusion data, and tumor characteristics were collected. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and univariate comparisons were performed with chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Variables significant at univariate level were used in multivariate logistic regression and negative binomial regression.

RESULTS

Of the 112 cases, 6 were in utero repairs, 73 were neonatal repairs, and 33 were repairs at >30 days of life. There was 17%, 1%, and 0% intraoperative mortality and 33%, 5%, and 0% 30-day mortality in the in utero, neonatal, and >30 days of life repairs, respectively. All six patients who died within the first 30 days of life had a postmenstrual age of <32 weeks at time of surgery. All six patients who died had noncystic tumors. Patients with noncystic tumors were more likely to be born prior to 30-week gestation (23/65 vs 6/47; χ² = 7.3; P = 0.007). Gestational age >30 weeks was associated with decreased intraoperative death (0% vs 10%; modified maximum likelihood estimate of OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.002-0.96; P = 0.02). Gestational age >30 weeks (2.4% vs 13.8%; OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.89; P = 0.04) and cystic morphology (0% vs 9.2%; modified maximum likelihood estimate of OR 0.1; CI 0.01-1.75; P = 0.04) were associated with decreased 30-day mortality and emergent surgery (17.9% vs 1.2%; OR 18; 95% CI 2-162.2; P = 0.004) was associated with increased 30-day mortality. Gestational age >30 weeks (33.7% vs 62.1%; OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.09-0.79; P = 0.02) and Altman class 3-4 (12.1% vs 52.7%; OR 0.1; 95% CI 0.03-0.34; P = 0.0002) were associated with decreased need for transfusion and noncystic tumor was associated with increased transfusion volume (131.6 ml·kg^-1 [95% CI 94-184] vs 63 ml·kg^-1 [95% CI 40-100.1]; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Prematurity is associated with increased intraoperative and 30-day mortality. Noncystic tumor morphology was the only significant factor associated with transfusion volume and all six patients who died had transfusion volumes of 240 ml·kg^-1 or greater. In these patients at high risk of mortality due to blood loss, the anesthesia team should be prepared to manage massive transfusion and coagulopathy with blood components and pharmacologic measures.