Retroperitoneal teratoma presenting as an abscess in childhood

Abstract Retroperitoneal teratomas are rare, representing only 1% to 11% of primary retroperitoneal neoplasms. They typically present as an asymptomatic abdominal mass but can grow to enormous size. This case describes a patient who initially presented in childhood with an acute abdomen because of a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of pediatric surgery Vol. 42; no. 11; pp. e21 - e23
Main Authors Nguyen, Charles T, Kratovil, Tonya, Edwards, Mary J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2007
Subjects
Abdominal Abscess - diagnosis
Abdominal Abscess - microbiology
Biopsy, Needle
Child
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Laparotomy - methods
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Pediatrics
Retroperitoneal Neoplasms - diagnosis
Retroperitoneal Neoplasms - pathology
Retroperitoneal Neoplasms - surgery
Risk Assessment
Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis
Surgery
Teratoma - diagnosis
Teratoma - pathology
Teratoma - surgery
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome
Retroperitoneum
Teratoma
Abscess
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Summary:Abstract Retroperitoneal teratomas are rare, representing only 1% to 11% of primary retroperitoneal neoplasms. They typically present as an asymptomatic abdominal mass but can grow to enormous size. This case describes a patient who initially presented in childhood with an acute abdomen because of an abdominal abscess that was treated with surgical drainage and antibiotics. Fifteen years later, the patient had a recurrence of symptoms and the abscess was ultimately recognized to be an infected retroperitoneal teratoma. There have been reports of intraabdominal and pelvic teratomas presenting as abscesses in adults. However, to our knowledge, there has been no prior description of this phenomenon in children. In an otherwise healthy child who presents with an unexplained abscess in the sacrococcygeal area, gonads, mediastinum, or retroperitoneum, one should entertain the diagnosis of teratoma.
ISSN:0022-3468
1531-5037
DOI:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.07.053