Computers & Operations Research | 2021
Extra-Gonadal Teratomas in Atypical Sites in Neonates and Children – Our Experience and Review of the Literature
Abstract
Background: Extra-gonadal teratomas are rare tumors in Pediatric surgical practice. We studied the \nteratomas of atypical sites attended in our tertiary care center. \nAim: Aim of the study was to find out the incidence of pediatric teratomas in atypical sites, clinical \npresentation and histological variation. \nMaterial and Methods: Over 15 years (January 2005 to December 2020), 29 cases of pediatric teratomas \nin atypical sites were studied. These sites included neck (number-one), retroperitoneum (number-fourteen), \nadrenal gland (number-two), renal (number-two), gastric(number-three), pancreas (number-one), \npulmonary (number-one), floor of the mouth(number-one), oral (number-two), abdominal wall (numberone) and the mesentery (number-one). Patients were treated in the Department of Pediatric Surgery and \nspecimens were reviewed in the Department of Pathology. Age, sex, clinical presentation, investigations \n(all patients had complete blood examination and alpha-fetoprotein) and imaging (USG of the local part and \nCECT as guided by the organ of involvement). \nResults: 29 pediatric teratomas in uncommon sites were reviewed. Out of 14 cases of retroperitoneal \nteratoma, three were immature. Cervical teratoma in a neonate was mature. Three cases of gastric teratomas \nwere reported as mature. Two cases of adrenal teratomas also showed the histological features of mature \nteratoma. Renal teratomas (two) were benign. One each of pulmonary teratoma, pancreas and floor of the \nmouth were reported as mature. Two patients presented with oral teratoma were reported as mature \nteratomas. One patient had teratoma arising from the abdominal wall and was resected completely (mature \nteratoma). Teratoma arising from the mesentery also underwent complete resection. \nConclusion: A small percentage of Pediatric teratomas occur in atypical sites. In our series, retroperitoneal \ntumors were predominant. Early surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Malignant change is known to \noccur in Pediatric teratoma and the patients need long term follow-up.