Fetal hydrops associated with tumors

Fetuses with tumors associated with hydrops have a high mortality rate. Relatively few survivors have this potentially fatal combination. This study examined the clinical and pathological findings, pathogenesis, and outcomes of fetuses with tumors and hydrops. One hundred and fifty-eight study cases were collected from the literature and from personal files. Only patients where adequate clinical and pathological data were given and the outcome of pregnancy was described were included in the study. Cardiac tumors were the majority found in association with fetal hydrops. Leukemia and extracardiac teratomas were next in frequency followed by hepatic tumors, neuroblastoma, placental, soft tissue, and renal tumors. The main presenting findings along with hydrops were hydramnios, a tumor mass, placentomegaly, and stillbirth. Most tumors were detected in the third trimester of pregnancy. No fetus with the diagnosis of cardiac rhabdomyoma, neuroblastoma, brain tumor, rhabdoid tumor, or histiocytosis associated with hydrops survived. Those patients with placental chorangioma, pericardial teratoma, and hepatic hemangioma had the best outcome. The overall survival rate was low: 30 of 158 (19%).