Fetal Sacrococcygeal Immature Teratoma: A Case Report and A Literature Review

Background Fetal immature sacrococcygeal teratoma(SCT) is relatively rare. It is usually detected through prenatal color ultrasound examination during the middle or late stages of pregnancy. Diagnosis relies on histopathological examination. Surgical treatment includes tumor resection combined with partial resection of the sacrococcygeal bone. The prognosis of SCT after surgery is usually good. Neonatal deaths due to SCT are relatively rare. Currently, there are only a few related reports, and the cause of death is not completely clear. Further research is needed to explore this issue. Case presentation A 35-year-old pregnant woman at 33+1 weeks of gestation presented to the emergency department of our hospital with complaints of irregular abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. An emergency cesarean section was performed via the lower uterine segment due to preterm labor, fetal distress, polyhydramnios, intensified abdominal pain, and vaginal bleeding. A female fetus was successfully delivered, and a large mass measuring 13x11x8 cm was identified in the sacrococcygeal region. The mass was found to be ruptured with active bleeding. A biopsy was performed at the rupture site for pathological examination, which confirmed the diagnosis of an immature SCT. Despite medical intervention, the newborn succumbed to irreversible heart failure and respiratory dysfunction on the 5th postpartum day. Conclusions We emphasizes the significance of prenatal abdominal color Doppler ultrasound examination in screening for SCT in newborns, and conducts an in-depth analysis of the related factors that may lead to the death of newborns due to SCT. Our report aims to enhance the understanding of clinical physicians regarding this disease, thereby optimizing the diagnosis and treatment strategies and further reducing the mortality rate.