Benign and malignant teratomas in children: analysis of 85 patients

Abstract

Teratomas were observed in 85 infants and children. Fifty-eight (68%) were girls and 27 (32%) boys. Site of origin was sacrococcygeal in 55 patients (64.8%), mediastinal in ten (11.7%), gonadal in ten (11.7%), presacral in four (4.8%), retroperitoneal in three (3.5%), and cervical in three (3.5%). Sixty-seven (78.8%) teratomas were benign and 18 (21.1%) malignant. Malignant tumors were noted in 11 of 55 sacrococcygeal (20%), two of ten mediastinal (20%), three of eight ovarian (37.5%), and both testicular lesions. Cervical, retroperitoneal, and presacral tumors were benign. Age at diagnosis (greater than 1 month), presence of symptoms (urinary and colonic obstruction), and serum positive for alpha fetoprotein were indicators of malignancy in sacrococcygeal cases. Age was not a factor for teratomas at other sites. Tumor size, presence of calcification, and gross appearance (cystic or solid) did not relate to the tumor's benign or malignant nature. Three of four presacral tumors were associated with anorectal anomalies. Operative resection is the treatment of choice. Four deaths were related to operative hemorrhage. Four of five survivors with malignant teratoma received radiation and chemotherapy. A more aggressive role for combined adjunctive measures is suggested in cases of malignancy.