Abstract
Objective: This paper aims to highlight the clinical features, investigations and treatment of retroperitoneal teratomas condition.Methods: 12 patients (8 females and 4 males, age range-2 months to 14 yrs) of retroperitoneal teratoma admitted to the department of Pediatric Surgery, King George Medical University, Lucknow between 1980 and 2004 were studied. Investigations included hematology, plain X-ray of the abdomen, intravenous urography, ultrasound, computerised tomography (CT) of the abdomen (after 1990, 8 patients), and serum alpha-fetoprotein assay (after 1991, 6 patients, preoperatively). All patients underwent surgery. Serum alpha-fetoprotein assay was used during follow-up to detect recurrence.Results: Majority of the tumors were left pararenal in location. In two patients there was bilateral involvement. In all except one, the tumor could be excised easily preserving the kidneys. In one child with a massive cystic tumor with bilateral involvement, the tumor was marsupialised in the first stage and excised subsequently. One child died postoperatively, the other 11 children are well and there has been no tumor recurrence on follow-up.Conclusions: Retroperitoneal teratomas are uncommon lesions in children mostly arising in close relation to the kidneys. The majority are benign but complete excision is necessary for cure. Even large tumors with bilateral involvement of the retroperitoneum can be excised while preserving adjacent organs. Serum alphafetoprotein assay is a reliable method of detecting recurrence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Grosfeld JL, Ballantine TV, Lowe D, Bahener RL. Benign and malignant teratomas in children: Analysis of 85 Patients.Surgery 1976; 80: 297–305.
Auge B, Satge D, Sauvage P. Retroperitoneal teratomas in the perinatal period. Review of literature concerning a neonatal immature aggressive teratoma.Ann Pediatr 1993; 40: 613–621.
Abdel Gauad G, Ivanchev I, Vasilev K. Retroperitoneal and pelvic presacral teratogenic tumors in early childhood—the diagnostic and surgical treatment problems.Khirurgiia (Sofia) 1990; 43: 1–5.
Papanicolau N, Yoder IC, Lee MJ. Primary retroperitoneal neoplasms: How close can we come in making the correct diagnosis.Urol Radiol 1992; 14: 221–228.
Schey WL, Vesly JJ, Radkowski MA. Shard like calcifications in retroperitoneal teratomas.Pediatr Radiol 1986; 16: 82–84.
Lack FE, Travis WD, Welch KJ. Retroperitoneal germ cell tumors in childhood. A clinical and pathological study of 11 cases.Cancer 1985; 56: 602–608.
Hayasaka K, Yamada T, Saitoh Y, Sakura K. CT Evaluation of primary benign retroperitoneal tumor.Radiat Med 1994; 12: 115–120.
Tapper D, Lack EE. Teratomas in infancy and childhood. A 54 year experience at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center.Ann Surg 1983; 198: 398–410.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chaudhary, A., Misra, S., Wakhlu, A. et al. Retroperitoneal teratomas in children. Indian J Pediatr 73, 221–223 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02825485
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02825485