Primitive neuroectodermal tumor: a newly recognized cause of early fetal death

Reviews in the literature of fetal and neonatal neoplasms deal only with congenital tumors, that is, tumors presenting at or shortly after birth. Virtually nothing is known about neoplasms occurring in the embryonal period or early fetal life. We report five small macerated fetuses with a very primitive embryonal tumor of neuroectodermal origin. The tumor characteristically showed massive vascular permeation. Expulsion of the fetus occurred during the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. It is suggested that this primitive neuroectodermal tumor is a "new" cause of spontaneous late abortion.