Sacrococcygeal teratoma

Teratomas ( terato=monster and onkoma=swelling) arise from postmeiotic germ cells. Teratomas are typically found in the midline or gonads. Most common sites are as follows:

    Sacrococcygeal - 40%
    Ovary - 25%
    Testicle - 12%
    Brain - 5%
    Other (including the neck and mediastinum) - 18%

By definition, teratomas include components derived from all 3 embryonic layers: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. These tissues are foreign to the location in which they are found. Teratomas may be classified as mature or immature on the basis of the presence of immature neuroectodermal elements. More immature a teratoma the higher the chances of it being malignant.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma occurs in 1 in 30,000-70,000 live births. The male-to-female ratio is 1:4

Treatment is surgical and outcomes are highly variable and depend upon the gestational age of the patient, location and size of the tumor and tumor maturity. Survival of preterm infants younger than 30 weeks' gestation with sacrococcygeal teratoma is only 7%, whereas the survival for infants older than 30 weeks' gestation is 75%.