Managing Sacrococcygeal Teratoma in a New Born of a Psychopathic Widow: Case Report

Abstract

Background: Sacrococcygeal tumors are composite embryonal tumours reflecting any one or more of embryonal/foetal remnants such as germinoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, choriocarcinoma and yolk sac tumors. Teratomas are the commonest variety of these tumours encountered in clinical practice. Sacrococcygeal tumors are most commonly found in females. Male presentations tend to carry high risk of malignancy.
Clinical management of sacrococcygeal tumours in males therefore requires more meticulous attention to the details of surgery and follow-ups.
Study design: This is a clinical case report of a huge sacrococcygeal tumour highly valued by a mentally deranged mother, which was excised from a three (3) month old baby boy under general anaesthesia in prone position over a three and half hour period. The purpose of the report is to highlight the special challenges in the management of the case not only on
account of the sheer size of the tumour but also the unusual psychopathic attachment of the mother to her baby's tumour. The accompanying literature review was by both manual and Medline searches.
Result: Surgery and postoperative recovery were uneventful. Histology showed tumour variety to be sacrococcygeal teratoma. Patient showed steady progress with each follow-up visit.
Conclusion: Sacrococcygeal tumours are rare, but are the commonest tumours of the newborn. Early surgery avoids tendency to malignant transformation and a good follow-up program is necessary for a guarded prognosis.

Niger Med J. Vol. 50, No. 3, July – Sept., 2009: 74 – 76.

Key words: sacrococcygeal teratoma, germ cell, malignancy, male neonate.