Cervical teratoma: prenatal diagnosis and long-term follow-up

Abstract

Cervical teratomas are rare tumours which are the result of abnormal prenatal development. They are usually detected at birth, but can occasionally remain silent until adulthood. Obstruction of the airway is the major challenge in the neonatal period. Prenatal diagnosis allows for early consultation with paediatric surgical specialists, so that the time and place of delivery can be addressed, and planning for resuscitative efforts can be organized in advance. If the airway is quickly stabilized and resection of the tumour is not delayed, the prognosis is good. Cervical teratomas in neonates are usually benign; however, malignant transformation and metastasis can occur as a rare event, influencing long-term survival and prognosis. We present two cases of neonatal cervical teratoma detected prenatally by ultrasound. In one case, termination of the pregnancy was elected. In the other case, the child was delivered at 36 weeks' gestation, an airway was secured, and subtotal resection of the tumour was performed. No developmental or neurological deficit has been detected on long-term follow-up at 5 years of age. We present a review of the literature, with attention to outcome and potential for malignancy in neonatal cervical teratomas, in order to provide help in decision-making, once prenatal diagnosis is made.