Complete peripartum airway management of a large epignathus teratoma: EXIT to resection

Brianne Barnett Roby1, Andrew R Scott, James D Sidman

  • 1Pediatric ENT Associates, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota-Minneapolis, Suite 450, 2530 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, MMC 396 Mayo 8396, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

We present a case of a female infant that was diagnosed on prenatal ultrasound with an oral mass, and subsequently underwent a planned EXIT procedure to secure the airway. Ultimately the epignathus teratoma was excised at 3 days of age. The number of cases in which neonates have survived epignathus teratomas has increased in the past decade due to improved prenatal imaging and the development of the EXIT procedure. This case demonstrates the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that must be established when a prenatal diagnosis raises concern for airway compromise, and the thorough work-up required for definitive management.