Hereditary presacral teratoma

Solid malignant retroperitoneal masses-a pictorial review

Primary retroperitoneal masses are a rare but important group of neoplasms. Cross-sectional imaging has revolutionised the investigation of patients with retroperitoneal neoplasms. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can contribute to tumour diagnosis, though histological confirmation is often required because of the considerable overlap of imaging features. Cross-sectional imaging is key to the pre-operative staging and planning of retroperitoneal masses, though ultrasound may also help in certain instances. Imaging also helps to select and guide the site to biopsy from these usually large and heterogeneous neoplasms. This article aims to review many of the primary retroperitoneal neoplasms that may be encountered by the radiologist.

Lumbar lipomyelomeningocele and sacrococcygeal teratoma in siblings: support for an alternative theory of spinal teratoma formation

Sacrococcygeal teratomas may arise in association with regional developmental errors affecting the caudal embryonic segments and may originate within lumbosacral lipomas. It is therefore possible that sacrococcygeal teratomas and lumbosacral lipomas represent related disorders of embryogenesis. Accordingly, the authors report the cases of 2 siblings. The first child (female) was born with a mature Altman Type III sacrococcygeal teratoma that was resected when she was a neonate. Subsequently, a younger brother was found soon after birth to have an L-4-level lipomyelomeningocele and underwent partial resection and spinal cord untethering at 4 months of age. Although familial forms of each of these conditions have been reported, this is, to the authors' knowledge, the first reported occurrence of lipomyelomeningocele and sacrococcygeal teratoma in siblings. They propose that an inherited regional tendency to developmental error affecting the caudal embryonic segments was shared by these siblings and resulted in spinal teratoma formation in one of them.

Presacral tumours in adults

Presacral tumours represent a heterogeneous group of predominantly benign and occasionally malignant neoplasms. Due to the rarity of these tumours, their management is often performed in an ad hoc fashion and an algorithm for optimal treatment remains undefined. This review aims to present an overview of presacral tumours, focusing on their presentation, pathology, investigation and management.

Mature Presacral Teratoma in an Adult Male: A Case Report

Presacral teratomas are rare tumors derived from more than one embryonic germ layer and are usually diagnosed in infancy. It has been estimated that the incidence of presacral teratoma in children ranges from 1 in 30,000 to 1 in 43,000 live births. However, the diagnosis of these tumors in adults is extremely rare. H. Head et al. reviewed the world literature in 1975 and found only 71 reported cases. Since that time, an additional 14 cases have been reported, and only one of these was found in the United States. This study reports a case of an adult male who presented with recurrent infected pilonidal cysts that proved to be benign presacral teratoma at biopsy. The patient underwent resection by left hemisacrectomy and primary closure using a posterior approach and, since this procedure, has had no evidence of recurrence. The case is presented along with a review of the relevant literature.