Outcomes in Neonates Following the Surgical Removal of a Teratoma: A NSW and ACT Experience

Abstract

Aim To describe the characteristics and outcomes of neonates admitted to tertiary hospitals in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory who have undergone surgical removal of a teratoma, as there is paucity of Australian data. Methods All neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with teratoma between 2007 and 2017 inclusive (as per neonatal intensive care units data collection) were included in this retrospective study. Results Forty-three neonates with a diagnosis of teratoma were included in the study. The most common tumors were sacrococcygeal teratomas, accounting for 79% (34) of all the cases. Twenty-four (56%) neonates were diagnosed with teratoma antenatally. Ninety-one percent (39) of the deliveries took place in the tertiary center. Median gestational age of the neonates was 37 weeks and the median weight was 3.39 kg. One or more additional anomalies apart from teratoma were detected in 16 neonates (37%), most common being congenital hydrocephalus and hydronephrosis. Overall survival was 93% at hospital discharge: the 3 neonates who died soon after birth did not undergo surgery and they all were premature with poor Apgar scores. Conclusions Sacrococcygeal teratoma was the most common type of teratoma with more than half of the cases determined antenatally. Overall survival of neonates after surgery for teratoma is high.