Pathobiology of sacrococcygeal teratomas

Sacrococcygeal teratomas are rare tumours, occurring in approximately 1 in 40,000 live births. The sacrococcygeal area is, however, the commonest site for teratomas that are present at birth. There are many conflicting theories as to the origin of sacrococcygeal teratomas. Recent studies have begun to shed light on some of the dilemmas posed by these enigmatic tumours and have revealed factors that impact on therapy and outcome. Advances contributing to the understanding of sacrococcygeal teratomas and their impact on prognosis and therapy are reviewed in this article.