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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Teratoma Generation in the Testis Capsule
Published on: November 7, 2011
Sacrococcygeal teratoma in infants and children
Mohamed Ibrahim Barakat1, Salah Mansor Abdelaal, Amin Mohamed Saleh
1Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. mohamedebarakat@hotmail.com
Insights
Early surgical intervention for benign sacrococcygeal teratoma ensures excellent outcomes. Delayed resection of sacrococcygeal teratoma increases malignancy risk and impacts patient prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a complex congenital tumor.
- Management requires careful consideration of tumor size, associated anomalies, and patient hemodynamics.
- Long-term outcomes necessitate evaluation of neurological function, hemorrhage, and recurrence rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report surgical experience with sacrococcygeal teratoma.
- To analyze neurological function, intraoperative hemorrhage, and tumor recurrence.
- To evaluate surgical approaches for SCT management.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 22 infants and children with SCT.
- Surgical management stratified by tumor size and cardiac function: abdominosacral route for giant tumors with heart failure, sacral approach for smaller tumors.
- Post-operative follow-up for 1-3 years.
Main Results:
- 15 patients underwent sacral excision, 7 had abdominosacral excision with colostomy.
- Benign SCT in 17 patients (6% mortality), malignant SCT in 5 (20% mortality).
- Sacral route yielded good fecal/urinary control; abdominosacral route showed varied continence issues. Chemotherapy improved survival in malignant cases (70% rate).
Conclusions:
- Early surgical resection of benign SCT leads to favorable outcomes.
- Delayed treatment of SCT is associated with increased malignancy and poorer prognosis.
- Surgical approach impacts functional outcomes, highlighting the need for tailored management.
Background:
The purpose of this study is to share our experience with extensive sacrococcygeal teratoma, paying particular attention to neurological function, intraoperative hemorrhage, rate of tumor recurrence, and the surgical procedure.
Methods:
Infants and children with sacrococcygeal teratoma were selected and generally examined in order to detect other associated anomalies. Patients with giant sacrococcygeal tumor and high output heart failure were managed by the abdominosacral route while patients with small sacrococcygeal tumor and normal cardiac function were managed by the sacral approach. All operated patients were observed and followed-up regularly for a period of 1-3 years after tumor excision.
Results:
This study presents 22 patients with sacrococcygeal teratoma managed over a period of 40 months; 18 patients presented in the first 2 months of life and four children aged 2-4 years. Fifteen patients were treated by sacral excision and seven patients were corrected by abdomenosacral excision and temporary colostomy. Benign teratoma presented in 17 patients, one of whom died (6%), and five patients had malignant tumor, one of whom died (20%). The fecal and urinary state was good in all patients treated by the sacral route. Patients corrected by abdominosacral excision showed varied degrees of urinary incontinence and constipation. Survival in excised malignant tumor was good following chemotherapy; three patients received chemotherapy with a 70% survival rate.
Conclusion:
Benign sacrococcygeal teratoma has an excellent outcome after early surgery, but the incidences of malignancy increase if resection is delayed.
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