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Benign and malignant teratomas in children: analysis of 85 patients
Insights
Pediatric teratomas are often benign and located in the sacrococcygeal region. Malignancy indicators include age over 1 month and symptoms like obstruction, especially in sacrococcygeal teratomas.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Teratomas are germ cell tumors that can occur in infants and children.
- Sacrococcygeal teratomas are the most common type in this age group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of teratomas in pediatric patients.
- To identify factors associated with malignancy in pediatric teratomas.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 85 pediatric teratoma cases.
- Analysis of tumor site, histology (benign/malignant), and patient demographics.
- Correlation of clinical factors with malignancy and outcomes.
Main Results:
- 68% of patients were female; 64.8% of tumors were sacrococcygeal.
- 21.1% of teratomas were malignant, predominantly in sacrococcygeal and gonadal sites.
- Malignancy indicators in sacrococcygeal teratomas included age >1 month, obstruction symptoms, and elevated alpha-fetoprotein.
Conclusions:
- Sacrococcygeal teratomas are common and mostly benign, but malignancy indicators exist.
- Surgical resection is the primary treatment; adjunctive therapies may be needed for malignant cases.
- Further research into aggressive combined therapies for malignant pediatric teratomas is warranted.
Abstract:
Teratomas were observed in 85 infants and children. Fifty-eight (68%) were girls and 27 (32%) boys. Site of origin was sacrococcygeal in 55 patients (64.8%), mediastinal in ten (11.7%), gonadal in ten (11.7%), presacral in four (4.8%), retroperitoneal in three (3.5%), and cervical in three (3.5%). Sixty-seven (78.8%) teratomas were benign and 18 (21.1%) malignant. Malignant tumors were noted in 11 of 55 sacrococcygeal (20%), two of ten mediastinal (20%), three of eight ovarian (37.5%), and both testicular lesions. Cervical, retroperitoneal, and presacral tumors were benign. Age at diagnosis (greater than 1 month), presence of symptoms (urinary and colonic obstruction), and serum positive for alpha fetoprotein were indicators of malignancy in sacrococcygeal cases. Age was not a factor for teratomas at other sites. Tumor size, presence of calcification, and gross appearance (cystic or solid) did not relate to the tumor's benign or malignant nature. Three of four presacral tumors were associated with anorectal anomalies. Operative resection is the treatment of choice. Four deaths were related to operative hemorrhage. Four of five survivors with malignant teratoma received radiation and chemotherapy. A more aggressive role for combined adjunctive measures is suggested in cases of malignancy.