GIANT THORACOLUMBOSACRAL TERATOMA IN AN INFANT

A case of sacrococcygeal teratoma with unusually high intraspinal exte nsion is reported and the symptomatology and treatment are discussed. A 7-month-old male presented at birth with a prominent mass of the rig ht gluteal region preventing him from straightening his legs and causi ng undue effort during defecation. Magnetic resonance T1-weighted imag ing revealed a thoracolumbosacrococcygeal, partly cystic tumor with in traspinal extension up to the mid-thoracic spine. During two-staged su rgery, a cystic tumor containing fragments of hair, teeth, and bone an d adherent to its surroundings was removed. The histologic confirmed t he presence teratoma, A neurogenic bladder of the lower-motor-neuron t ype and constipation improved spontaneously. No further neurological d eficits before and during a 3-year post-operative follow-up period wer e recorded.