RETROPERITONEAL TERATOMAS IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD

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Abstract
The histogenesis, pathologic and clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal teratomas in infancy and childhood, based upon a study of 44 cases, are reviewed. Two cases of benign retroperitoneal teratomas with recovery, and one case of malignant retroperitoneal teratoma with subsequent death are presented. Retroperitoneal teratomas were usually noted in female infants under the age of 1 year as large, left-sided, abdominal tumors extending into the lumbar region, rarely causing symptoms, and revealing areas of ossification on roentgen examination. In this series 6.8% of the teratomas had undergone malignant changes, and 29.5% of the tumors were not operated upon and were described at autopsy. Successful treatment of retroperitoneal teratomas was dependent upon early operation, careful operative technic through a liberal transperitoneal incision, and adequate preoperative and postoperative management. The operative mortality was 29%. The histologic features constituted an important factor in prognosis: 10 cases of benign retroperitoneal teratoma in infancy and childhood were well for periods of over one year after operation, and no cure of malignant retroperitoneal teratoma has been reported in this age group.
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