Umbilical Cord Tumors

Abstract

Umbilical cord tumors are very rare entities, teratomas and haemangiomas, which are accepted as the only true neoplasms at this site are exceptional. Like other congenital anomalies, umbilical cord tumors may affect many fetuses and will end with fetal dismiss without proper investigations, registration or publication. Clinician should be aware about umbilical cord tumors, not only to manage these rare entities and to save the baby but also to differentiate them from more common anomalies like omphalocele, cord cysts and hernia.

Haemangioma of the umbilical cord is characterized by well-defined aggregates of closely packed, thin-walled capillary proliferation originating from the umbilical arteries, the umbilical vein or vitelline capillaries. The etiology is still not clear; it may represent a true neoplasm, or it may be a developmental abnormality (hamartoma). Even though it lacks circumscription or encapsulation, it never metastasizes, although it has been reported to be associated with additional skin, liver, intra-abdominal and placental haemangiomas. Most often haemangioma is an isolated anomaly, but large lesions have been described in association with polyhydramnios, intrauterine growth retardation and fetal malformations. Also it is reported in association with premature delivery and even with fetal death caused by impaired umbilical circulation resulting in nonimmune hydrops fetalis. Torsion, compression, thrombosis or stenosis of the umbilical vessels, fetal haemorrhage and haematoma of the umbilical cord are reported in survivors.