Fetal intracranial immature teratoma: presentation of a case and a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Objectives: To describe a case diagnosed with intracranial teratoma in week 32 of gestation, as well as review of the literature in order to discern the appropriate treatment method and general prognosis of this anomaly.

Methods: A literature search was performed on the prenatal diagnosis of congenital intracranial teratomas in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library data bases. Evaluated in this review are parameters such as time of prenatal diagnosis, associated pathology, size of tumors, method of terminating pregnancy, perinatal outcome and histological study of the tumor.

Results: A total of 49 cases were found, of which 12 were finished gestation, 28 cesarean section was performed and only nine had vaginal delivery. All died in the neonatal period except in three cases with intrauterine death after diagnosis.

Conclusion: As the incidence of intracranial immature teratomas is very low and the prognosis is poor, their prenatal diagnosis and obstetric management present a great challenge for the planning of a follow-up and treatment of the disease in accordance with the preferences of the parents.

• Congenital brain tumors
• fetal tumor
• intracranial immature teratoma
• prenatal diagnosis

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.