Intrapericardial Teratoma in a Newborn Infant: Use of Fetal Echocardiography

Fetal intrapericardial teratoma

“…Surgical or autopsy findings have consistently shown the IPT to be dependent and attached to the aorta and occasionally to the pulmonary artery 6 by a short vascular pedicle. Nevertheless, it is difficult to identify this relationship during the course of prenatal examinations 4,8,11,16 . Our patient presented such fetal anatomical distortion that we could not be sure of normal heart anatomy on ultrasound examination.…”

“…Tollens et al reported the presence of a second tumor in the superior mediastinum 19 . Differential diagnosis should include other thoracic masses such as pulmonary masses, bronchogenic cyst, intracardiac neoplasms, mediastinal teratoma and ventricular aneurysms 1,8,9,15,20 . The presence of pericardial effusion should alert one as to the possibility of IPT.…”

“…The presence of pericardial effusion should alert one as to the possibility of IPT. However, the pregnancy is not managed any differently than it would be with other thoracic masses 8,15 . Most IPTs are benign (85%).…”

Prenatal diagnosis of an intrapericardial teratoma. A cause for nonimmune hydrops.

“…3 We wish to report a case of an IPT diagnosed in utero in the second trimester that went on to cause severe non~ immune hydrops. …”

“…2 There has been only one case previously diagnosed in utero, which wasscanned in the third trimester, and had no evidence of fetal hydrops. 3 We wish to report a case of an IPT diagnosed in utero in the second trimester that went on to cause severe non~ immune hydrops.…”