Challenges of Management of Childhood Cervical teratomas in a Developing Country

Abstract

Background: Cervical teratomas are uncommon tumours in paediatric age groups. These are mostly benign and of favourable outcome when promptly diagnosed and surgically extirpated. The objective of this study is to report our experience with the challenges of management of 5 cases of cervical teratoma.
Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all cases of cervical teratoma managed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre Gombe, Gombe ,Nigeria.
Results: Five cases, comprising 3 neonates and 2 infants. There were 4 females and 1 male. Four of them had predominantly left sided tumour while 1 was right sided. Four had mild to moderate respiratory compromise, which necessitated emergency operation and all the tumours were completely extirpated. Four of the tumours were benign and 1 malignant. Surgical complications encountered were tracheal perforation, and wound infection in 1 patient, wound haematoma in another, and post-extubation tracheal collapse in one other child which resulted in the only mortality recorded.
Conclusion: Cervical site remains a rare site of teratoma occurrence and respiratory compromise is an ever-present danger peri-operatively because of the presenting large cervical masses, anatomical distortions and attenuation of tissues. Postoperative ventilation is advisable for at least 72 hours to forestall preventable mortality.


Keywords: Cervical Teratoma, Children, antenatal diagnosis, Nigeria

African Journal of Paediatric Surgery Vol. 3 (1) 2006: pp. 9-12