Tongue teratoma--a rare form of fetal extragonadal teratoma diagnosed at 30 weeks' gestation

Management of oropharyngeal teratoma: Two case reports and a literature review

Pharyngeal teratomas are very rare congenital tumours derived from pluripotent stem cells. Surgical resection is the main treatment to avoid breathing and feeding difficulties. This current case report describes two newborn infants with congenital oropharyngeal teratomas. In one of the infants, the tumour presented along with a cleft tongue and cleft palate. Prenatal diagnosis by ultrasonography did not identify the tumours because the masses were small and there was no polyhydramnios. Both cases were treated surgically and histological examination of the masses in both cases confirmed the diagnosis of a congenital epignathus. There were no complications such as infection, bleeding or residual recurrence following surgery. After 1-year follow-up, there was no recurrence of the epignathus in either case. Oropharyngeal teratoma is a very rare congenital tumour that may cause upper airway obstruction and feeding difficulties in the newborn, so it should be treated surgically in a timely manner.

Oral Mass of a Fetus Incidentally Found during Second Trimester: Ultrasound Survey and Postnatal Prognosis of the Baby

Ultrasound (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to detect and evaluate the face and neck tumors during the in-utero period. We reported and discussed an oral mass which was diagnosed incidentally at mid-trimester exam and managed successfully.

Prenatally diagnosed fetal tumors of the head and neck: a systematic review with antenatal and postnatal outcomes over the past 20 years

AIM

The aim of this study was to review prenatally diagnosed tumors of the head and neck in the fetus and to report antenatal and postnatal outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed/Medline, EMBASE/SCOPUS, Cochrane database and Google Scholar were reviewed over the last 20 years. No language or article type restriction was used.

RESULTS

A total of 1940 record were retrieved. Of the 713 records screened, 566 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. After 445 articles were excluded for specified reasons, 111 studies met the research criteria and were included for qualitative analysis. Overall, 306 cases of fetal tumors of the head and neck were reviewed. Maternal age was an independent factor. The mean maternal age was 28.2 years and gestational age at prenatal diagnosis was 27.1 weeks. Conventional 2D ultrasound was the standard diagnostic procedure in 27.9% of cases and was implemented in 27.3% of cases by 3D ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic evaluation of intracranial spreading and high-airway obstructions was greatly enhanced by fetal MRI. The more common type of fetal tumor was hemangioma/lymphangioms (42.1%), followed by teratomas (29.7%), tumors of the gingiva (10.1%) and lymphatic venous malformations (9.1%), respectively. Fetal karyotyping was performed only in 9.8% of cases; within fetuses undergoing karyotype, chromosomal abnormalities accounted for 20% of cases. The most common pregnancy complication was polyhydramnios (26.3%). Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure was performed in 30.1% of cases while surgical excision was used in 22.9% during postnatal life. The survival rate was 35.35%.

CONCLUSION

Fetal tumors of the head and neck are rare congenital malformations. Two-dimensional ultrasound is diagnostic in almost all cases; however, MRI may be an important diagnostic adjunct in targeted cases and help patient selection for immediate intubation at the time of delivery. EXIT procedure and surgical removal of the tumor was associated with good prognosis.

Management of fetal teratomas

Fetal teratomas are the most common tumors diagnosed prenatally. The majority of these tumors are benign and cured by complete resection of the mass during the neonatal period. Prenatal diagnosis has improved the perinatal management of these lesions and especially for the teratomas that might benefit from fetal intervention. A comprehensive prenatal evaluation including conventional ultrasounds, Doppler, echocardiography and fetal MRI, is essential for an effective counseling and perinatal management. Antenatal counseling helps the parents to better understand the natural history, fetal intervention, and perinatal management of these tumors, which differ dramatically depending on their size and location. Fetal surgical debulking improves survival in cases of sacrococcygeal teratoma with cardiac decompensation. Additionally, the use of an EXIT procedure reduces the morbidity and mortality if a complicated delivery in cases of cervical and mediastinal teratomas. Here, we offer an overview of all fetal teratomas and their recommended management, with emphasis on in utero treatment options.

A case of an epignathus with intracranial extension appearing as a persistently open mouth at 16 weeks and subsequently diagnosed at 20 weeks of gestation

We report a rare case of oral mass (epignathus) with intracranial extension originally suspected antenatally at 16 weeks' gestation because of a persistent open mouth. Postmortem MRI and pathologic examination of the fetus confirmed an oral teratoma with bilateral ventricular dilatation, corpus callosum agenesis, and a neuroepithelial intracranial cyst. The relevant literature regarding this anomaly is reviewed.