The impact of 3-dimensional ultrasonography on perinatal management of a large epignathus teratoma without ex utero intrapartum treatment

Teratoma nasofaríngeo inmaduro con diagnóstico prenatal: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura

Objetivos: reportar el caso de una gestante con diagnóstico de feto con teratoma nasofaríngeo inmaduro y realizar una revisión describiendo el pronóstico de esta patología. Materiales y métodos: se reporta el caso de una gestante de 27 años, atendida en la Unidad de Ginecología y Obstétrica de un centro de referencia en Bogotá (Colombia), por hallazgo durante el control prenatal de un feto con evidencia de polihidramnios secundario a teratoma nasofaríngeo. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos Medline vía PubMed, Scopus, SciELO y ScienceDirect, restringiendo tipo de idioma (inglés y español) y por fecha de publicación (enero de 2001 a enero de 2021). Se incluyeron reportes de caso y series de casos que abarcaran el pronóstico de esta patología. Resultados: la búsqueda recuperó 168 títulos, de los cuales 55 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. En total se reportó el resultado perinatal de 58 fetos con diagnóstico de teratoma nasofaríngeo inmaduro detectado en etapa prenatal. En los casos identificados, la mortalidad perinatal fue del 25,4 % y el porcentaje de óbito fue cercano al 3,6 %. Conclusiones: el teratoma nasofaríngeo inmaduro es una patología poco frecuente. La literatura disponible sugiere que el pronóstico fetal depende del grado de compromiso de las estructuras intracraneales y de la posibilidad de resección de la lesión. Se requieren más estudios que evalúen el pronóstico de los fetos con teratoma nasofaríngeo inmaduro.

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.

Prenatal diagnosis of obstructive head and neck masses and perinatal airway management: the ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure

Advances in prenatal imaging in the last 20 years have enabled prenatal diagnosis of obstructive head and neck masses. These advances, coupled with improvements in maternal-fetal anesthesia, have made possible the development of the ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure for management of obstructive head and neck masses, during which the airway is managed in a controlled fashion while maintaining fetal circulation for oxygenation. This review addresses the preoperative and perioperative assessment and management of patients with prenatally diagnosed airway obstruction, indications and contraindications for the EXIT procedure, technical details of the procedure, and outcomes.

Perinatal management of congenital oropharyngeal tumors: the ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) approach

PURPOSE

To present our experience in the perinatal management of fetuses with large oropharyngeal tumors by ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with congenital oropharyngeal tumor who underwent an EXIT procedure between May 2006 and June 2012.

RESULTS

Four patients were included in the series, three females and one male. The diagnoses were epignathus (n=2) and congenital epulis (n=2). Three EXITs were done at term and one at late preterm due to premature rupture of membranes. Median maternal time under anesthesia was 185 min (range: 166-281) and median maternal operative time was 99 min (range: 85-153). Median maternal blood loss was 550 ml (range: 350-2000); one mother required a blood transfusion. Mean maternal hospital stay was 4 days. Median hysterotomy-to-cord clamp time was 24 min (range: 18-66). Mean fetal birth weight was 2.7 kg (range: 2.4-3). The airway was successfully accessed and secured under placental circulation in all cases. In the two patients with congenital epulis the tumors were resected at the base of their pedicles and the airway accessed via direct laryngoscopy before the umbilical cord was clamped. One patient with epignathus underwent a retrograde tracheal intubation under placental circulation and had the tumor resected thereafter. The second patient with epignathus had a tracheostomy done under placental circulation and then had tumor debulking immediately after the EXIT. The maternal morbidity was minimal and there were no mortalities.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the EXIT procedure is the ideal delivery strategy for fetuses with prenatally diagnosed oropharyngeal tumors and potential airway obstruction at birth. Patients with prenatally diagnosed oropharyngeal tumors should be promptly referred to a fetal treatment center with a dedicated multidisciplinary team and EXIT capabilities.

Prenatal diagnosis of a large epignathus teratoma using two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound: correlation with pathological findings

Epignathus teratomas are rare tumors that originate in the region of the palate or pharynx and are known as Rathke pouch. They may be associated with other malformations such as a cleft palate and bifid tongue or nose. The prenatal diagnosis can be established by two-dimensional ultrasonography showing a heterogeneous mass protruding through the mouth of the fetus. The three-dimensional ultrasonography in rendering mode permits better understanding of this anomaly by the parents, facilitating the counseling. The importance of prenatal diagnosis lies in the fact that this tumor may obstruct the airways, thus leading to death at birth due to respiratory insufficiency. We report a case of prenatal diagnosis of epignathus teratoma in the 30th week of pregnancy by two-dimensional ultrasonography. We focus on the importance of three-dimensional ultrasonography in rendering mode for demonstrating the spatial relationships of the tumor with the oral cavity and provide correlations between the ultrasound images and the anatomopathological findings.

Complete peripartum airway management of a large epignathus teratoma: EXIT to resection

We present a case of a female infant that was diagnosed on prenatal ultrasound with an oral mass, and subsequently underwent a planned EXIT procedure to secure the airway. Ultimately the epignathus teratoma was excised at 3 days of age. The number of cases in which neonates have survived epignathus teratomas has increased in the past decade due to improved prenatal imaging and the development of the EXIT procedure. This case demonstrates the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that must be established when a prenatal diagnosis raises concern for airway compromise, and the thorough work-up required for definitive management.

Prenatal 3-dimensional imaging techniques in the sonographic evaluation of an oral mass: comparison with postnatal imaging modalities

Historically, published reports of 3-dimensional (3D) sonographic evaluation of fetal oral masses have been limited to the surface-rendering mode. This report demonstrates the clinical potential of various 3D imaging techniques in the evaluation of fetal epignathus. A comparison is made among the images generated from 3D data sets, postnatal magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic scans, and the excised surgical specimen. The diagnostic value and limitations of several 3D imaging techniques in the evaluation of an oral mass are explored.

Cervical and oral teratoma in the fetus: a systematic review of etiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to produce a systematic review about etiology, pathology, diagnosis, prognosis and clinical management regarding oral and cervical teratomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review of Pubmed/Medline using the following keywords was made: epignathus, cervical teratoma, fetus, oral teratoma, prenatal diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

The following clinical conclusions can be reached: (1) teratomas are rare, usually benign congenital tumors which recognized multifactorial etiology; (2) prenatal ultrasound diagnosis can be made early in pregnancy (15-16 weeks); (3) 3D ultrasound and MRI may enhance the accuracy of the antenatal diagnosis (location, extension and intracranial spread) and may aid in the selection of patients requiring treatment; (4) prenatal karyotype and search for associated abnormalities is mandatory in all teratomas; (5) delivery should involve elective Cesarean section with ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure or resection of the tumor mass, which may be performed on placental support operation on placental support procedure to increase the chances of postnatal survival.

Antenatal 3-dimensional sonographic diagnosis of fetal oropharyngeal teratoma

We report a case of a large fetal oropharyngeal teratoma in a 19-week fetus evaluated with 3-dimensional (3D) sonography. The 3D sonographic surface and maximum mode rendering of the tumor allowed detailed visualization of the mass lesion and thus enabled active patient participation in the management of the pregnancy.

Nasal septal teratoma in a child

Background

Teratoma is a rare developmental neoplasm that arises from totipotential tumor stem cells. Head and neck teratomas constitute about 10% of all cases. Only two cases of mature teratoma of the nasal septum have previously been documented in the world literature.

Case presentation

We present a case of histologically confirmed mature teratoma arising from the nasal septum in an eighteen month old Nigerian female who presented with a history of noisy breathing associated with recurrent rhinorrhea since birth. Physical examination revealed obstruction of the right nasal cavity by a pale fleshy mass. She underwent a total surgical excision and to date, after thirty one months follow-up, she is free from recurrence.

Conclusion

The prognosis for benign teratoma of the nasal septum is good following total surgical excision.

How useful is 3D and 4D ultrasound in perinatal medicine?

AIM

The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the published literature on the use of three-dimensional (3DUS) and four-dimensional (4DUS) ultrasound in perinatal medicine.

METHODS

We systematically searched Medline through PubMED (January 2000-January 2006), including EMBASE/Excerpta Medica database as well as the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The search terms used to identify clinical application of 3DUS and 4DUS studies in perinatal medicine were technical development, special features, and recommendation for fetal imaging, research on 3DUS or 4DUS, and the usage of invasive 3DUS or 4DUS procedures. The reference bibliographies of relevant books were also manually searched for supplementary citations. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) studies related to the use of 3DUS or 4DUS in perinatal medicine; (2) full text were available in English; (3) publication format of original scientific articles, case reports, editorials or literature reviews and chapters in the books.

RESULTS

Five hundred and seventy-five articles were identified, and among those, 438 were relevant to this review.

CONCLUSIONS

3DUS and 4DUS provided additional information for the diagnosis of facial anomalies, evaluation of neural tube defects, and skeletal malformations. Additional research is needed to determine the clinical utility of 3DUS and 4DUS for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease, central nervous system (CNS) anomalies and detection of fetal neurodevelopmental impairment assessed by abnormal behavior in high-risk fetuses.