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tumor that grows at the base of the spine in a developing fetus. It occurs in one in 40,000 newborns and girls are four times more likely to be affected than boys. Though it is usually benign, there is a possibility that the teratoma could become malignant. As such, the recommended treatment of a teratoma is complete removal of the tumor by surgery, performed soon after the birth. If not all of the tumor is removed during the initial surgery, the teratoma may grow back (recur) and additional surgeries may be needed. Studies have found that sacrococcygeal teratomas recur in up to 22% of cases.A sacrococcygeal teratoma is a
Last updated: 10/18/2013
- Schmidt B, Haberlik A, Uray E, Ratschek M, Lackner H, Höllwarth ME. Sacrococcygeal teratoma: clinical course and prognosis with a special view to long-term functional results. Pediatric Surgery International. 1999; 15:573-576. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=10631738. Accessed 7/13/2011.
- Tailor J, Roy PG, Hitchcock R, Grant H, Johnson P, Joseph VT, Lakhoo K. Long-term functional outcome of sacrococcygeal teratoma in a UK regional center (1993 to 2006). Journal of Pediatric Hematology/oncology. 2009; 31:183-186. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=19262244. Accessed 7/12/2011.
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