A case of sacrococcygeal teratoma

Clinical Cases 18.07.2016
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Section: Musculoskeletal system
Case Type: Clinical Cases
Patient: 7 years, female
Authors: Dr Sanjib Kumar Das
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Clinical History

A 7-year-old girl presented with a mass in the sacral region which had been present since birth and appeared to grow with age. The mass was soft in consistency and devoid of any discharge.

Imaging Findings

A CT scan was performed and revealed a pedunculated soft tissue mass posterior of the sacrum at S4-S5 level, with inhomogeneous density (including fat and calcification). No definite presacral extension was seen.

On USG correlation, the mass appeared solid-cystic in nature.

Discussion

Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most common solid tumour in neonates with an incidence of one in 35000 births and a F:M ratio of 4:1. It is a type of germ cell tumour arising from an early event in embryogenesis leading to abnormal primitive totipotent cells. It is most commonly benign, although malignant forms also occur. Malignant forms occur most commonly in men. [1]
It arises from the anterior portion of coccyx and grows most commonly posteroinferiorly. It can be one of 4 types: [2, 3]
Type 1: entirely external
Type 2: with little presacral extension
Type 3: largest part in pelvis or abdomen
Type 4: entirely presacral
Radiologic evaluation helps in the confirmation of the diagnosis, extension of the mass, relationship with other structures, tissue characteristics and demonstration of metastasis in malignant cases. [4] It can be solid, cystic or a combination of both. Cystic lesions have the lowest risk of malignancy while solid ones have the highest risk. USG shows solid or cystic nature of the tumour while colour Doppler in some tumours may show marked hypervascularity. MRI is the modality to rule out any colonic displacement, ureteric dilatation, associated hip dislocation and intraspinal extension.
Management of benign tumours [5] is surgical excision with coccyx to prevent recurrence while in malignant types radiotherapy and chemotherapy are performed, followed by surgical excision. The blood AFP is often the tumour marker in children with malignant teratoma.

Differential Diagnosis List

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (Type 1)
Sacral chordoma
Sacral meningocoele

Final Diagnosis

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (Type 1)

Figures

Clinical image

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Clinical image

Axial view

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Axial view

Bone window (axial view)

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Bone window (axial view)