Fetal intrapericardial teratomas are rare and benign cardiac tumors By
 comprehensive literature retrieval of the pertinent articles published since
 2000, 49 articles with 61 cases of intrapericadial teratomas were recruited into
 this study The intrapericardial teratomas were found during pregnancy in 55
 cases (fetal group), while the tumors were detected until neonatal period in 6
 cases (neonatal group) In the fetal group, 15 cases were critical with
 fetal/neonatal respiratory distress or cardiac tamponade Antenatal
 treatments including centesis, shunt placement, open fetal surgery and the ex
 utero intrapartum treatment were required in 24 (436%) fetal cases
 Postnatal intubation was required in 19 cases with 18 of them having immediate
 intubation after birth Postnatal tumor resection was performed in 41
 (953%) cases In neonatal group, 4 neonates had respiratory distress
 and/or cardiac tamponade Neonatal intubation was required in 1
 (167%) patient Surgical tumor resection was performed in all 6
 patients A comparison between the fetal and neonatal groups revealed that the
 fetal group was associated with higher refractory effusions while the neonatal
 group had a higher incidence of respiratory distress Although the all cause
 death rate was higher in the fetal group than in the neonatal (255 vs
 0%), but lack of a statistical significance Antenatal treatments for
 fetal intrapericardial teratomas are feasible but carry higher risks in
 comparison to neonatal cases

Fetal Intrapericardial Teratomas: An Update

Intrapericardial teratoma is a rare congenital tumor that without treatment leads to cardiac failure in either the prenatal or postnatal period. Early diagnosis and recent surgical advances can, in some cases, delay development of intrauterine symptoms and allow final treatment through a tumor resection. However, a large number of intrapericardial tumors go undetected during prenatal diagnostics, until they are found as a cause of intrauterine death or postnatal cardiorespiratory insufficiency, as in our case report. An abortion was induced in the 23rd gestational week because there was no cardiac activity detected during a routine ultrasound scan in a 35-year old woman. The tumor was found during the postmortem of the fetus.

C Povýsil

Papers

Intrapericardial teratoma as a cause of fetal death--a case report.