CC BY 4.0 · European J Pediatr Surg Rep. 2022; 10(01): e6-e8
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1741509
Case Report

Umbilical Cord Teratoma Presenting as Ruptured Omphalocele

Fabian Doktor
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
,
Jan-Hendrik Gosemann
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
,
Peter Zimmermann
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
,
Manuela Siekmeyer
2   Department of Pediatrics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
,
Holger Stepan
3   Division of Obstetrics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
,
Martin Lacher
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
4   Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinderchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
› Author Affiliations
 

Abstract

Congenital mature teratomas of the umbilical cord are extremely rare. We report on a girl who presented with a ruptured omphalocele and a 7 cm mass connected to the umbilicus, which we resected on the first day of life. Histology revealed mature umbilical cord teratoma . On the 29th day of life, a secondary laparotomy was necessary to address the associated intestinal malformations (megaduodenum, stenotic small bowel with duplication and malrotation). After a prolonged hospital stay, we discharged the patient in age-appropriate conditions. Antenatal diagnosis of an umbilical cord tumor can be challenging in the presence of an omphalocele. Given the high prevalence of associated malformations, the finding of umbilical cord teratoma should be followed by a detailed and comprehensive neonatal workup for additional abnormalities.


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New Insights & the Importance for the Pediatric Surgeon

An umbilical cord teratoma is a spot diagnosis. Every pediatrician and pediatric surgeon should be aware of possible associated malformations.

Introduction

Teratomas can be subgrouped into extragonadal and gonadal. Two-thirds of these tumors are extragonadal and one-third is of gonadal origin.[1] Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most frequent subtype of extragonadal teratoma in childhood.[2] [3] Umbilical cord teratoma (UCT) was first described in 1878 by Budin in a full-term female newborn with a mass as big as an “adults' fist.”[4] We present a female neonate with a ruptured omphalocele and an umbilical mass which turned out to be an UCT.


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Case Report

A non-smoking 34-year-old, first gravida, was referred to our hospital due to an antenatal ultrasound finding suggesting gastroschisis. The past medical history revealed osteogenesis imperfecta of the child's mother and maternal grandmother. After 36 + 6 weeks of gestation, a preterm newborn of 2,735 g (30th percentile) was delivered via C-section.

At birth a ruptured omphalocele with a large cystic, solid tumor connected to the umbilicus was seen ([Fig. 1A]). The mass was partially covered with skin and attached to the small bowel. We took the child to the operating room for explorative laparotomy on the first day of life.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 (A) Ruptured omphalocele with umbilical cord teratoma (size of 7cm) at birth and (B) after resection. (C) Proximal duodenum (o) leading into the distal cystic duodenum (*) with a caliber change of 6:1 followed by proximal stenotic jejunum (#).

During this procedure, the mass was carefully separated from the adherent small bowel and resected ([Fig. 1B]). The duodenum and jejunum were patent, but the second part of the duodenum and the proximal jejunum is massively enlarged with a caliber change of 6:1 ([Fig. 1C]). The remaining 40 cm of the small bowel was of small diameter, filled with meconium and malrotated. As the megaduodenum was semicircumferentially surrounded by pancreas and the Vater's papilla leading into it, an extensive reconstructive procedure on the duodenum was not felt to be the best option. Instead, we decided to close the abdomen at this point to opt for revisional surgery.

On histology, the resected mass contained skin, respiratory epithelia, muscle tissue, adipose tissue, bone and cartilage without immature elements corresponding to a mature teratoma (G0 Gonzalez-Crussi).[5] Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) were not elevated at the time of diagnosis. During the prolonged hospital stay of 8 months, it took another three laparotomies to deal with all intestinal malformations and establish bowel function.

Upper gastrointestinal series were taken on the 29th day of life. These showed an obstruction at the level of the duodenum. During the following relaparotomy, the megaduodenum was tubularized ([Fig. 2A] and [B]). Two masses adherent to the head of the pancreas were not resected at this point. A third laparotomy on the 67th day of life was necessary due to a functional stenosis between the tubularized duodenum and the jejunum. We decided to resect the stenosis by creating a proximal diamond-shaped duodenojejunostomy and a distal jejunojejunostomy. In addition, a gastrostomy was placed. The 4th laparotomy on the 134th day of life was necessary to remove the two masses close to the pancreas (2 and 1.5 cm in diameter on magnetic resonance imaging [MRI). Histology again revealed mature teratoma.

Zoom Image
Fig. 2 (A) First revisional laparotomy on the 29th day of life. Opening of the megaduodenum, nasogastric tube is bridging the lumen to the following small bowel. Second part of the duodenum after tapering (#). Distal duodenum (o). (B) Reconstructed duodenum and proximal jejunum after tapering.

At this time, the length of the small bowel was 80 cm. Parenteral nutrition was given until 5 months of age. After 8 months, the patient was discharged from the hospital on full enteral feeds. After a follow-up of 23 months, the girl has no developmental deficits and no signs of a tumor recurrence on MRI or elevated tumor markers (AFP or β-hCG).


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Discussion

Teratoma of the umbilical cord is extremely rare. At present, there are only 18 other cases reported.[6] [7] In UCT, there is a female predominance with 14 female, two male, and two cases of unknown gender.

A teratoma derives from more than one germ cell layer. Most of UCTs comprise mature elements comparable to our case.[8] [9] Only four immature teratomas of the umbilical cord have been described with an outcome comparable to the mature teratomas.[6] [10] [11] [12] Today, the diagnosis of an UCT is frequently confirmed antenatally with the earliest detection at 13 weeks of pregnancy.[6] However, in our case, the antenatal ultrasound did not consider a teratoma but instead gastroschisis.

UCT can reach significant sizes. The mean diameter of all described UCT is 8.8 cm.[6] This corresponds to the case presented here with a maximum size of 7 cm in diameter. The biggest UCT has been reported by Crahes et al,[11] who encountered a tumor with a maximum diameter of 23 cm. Therefore, potential complications comparable to sacrococcygeal teratoma such as fetal hydrops, high output cardiac failure, and massive bleeding from the cord vessels may ultimately lead to intrauterine demise.[6]

Associated malformations are frequently described as nine of the 18 other cases had multiple malformations.[4] [6] [8] [9] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Like in our child, the most prevalent additional anomaly is an abdominal wall defect in 46% of cases mostly omphalocele.[10] [11] [12] [17] [18] [19] [20] One of the reported UCT was seen in a child with trisomy 13.[19] Thirteen percent of the newborns with UCT and associated malformations show dysmorphic intestine. Our patient underwent multiple laparotomies for a megaduodenum, an atresia-like hypoplastic small bowel and resection of teratomatous remnants. The complete removal during the first surgery was unsuccessful because of the proximity of the teratoma to the small bowel and the pancreas. In the literature, two other neonates are reported with intestinal atresia[10] and dilation of the small bowel.[11] Moreover, 13% of the reported cases had urinary malformations, for example, bladder extrophy or kidney aplasia[21] [22] and 26% were diagnosed with other malformations in different parts of the body (hydrocephalus, limb deformities, meningomyelocele, atrioventricular canal defect).[11] [21] [22]

At the age of 2 years, our patient is thriving and developing appropriately to her age. There is neither recurrent tumor on MRI nor indicated by serologic markers. In 8 of the 18 other reported cases (44%), the outcome was favorable without developmental deficits. Conversely, eight of the newborns (44%) did not survive the first year of life. Among those were three patients of intrauterine demise,[9] [17] [19] four neonatal deaths within the first month,[10] [16] [20] [22] and one child who died in the first 12 months.[6] The outcome of the two remaining patients (11%) was not reported.


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Conclusion

If prenatal imaging suggests an abdominal wall defect especially in a female fetus, the rare differential diagnosis of an UCT should be taken into consideration and associated malformations expected. As seen in our case, the surgical treatment may be complex.


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Conflict of Interest

None declared.

  • References

  • 1 Kaatsch P, Grabow D, Spix C. German Childhood Cancer Registry - Annual Report 2018 (1980–2017). Mainz: Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI) at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; 2019
  • 2 Gross RW, Clatworthy Jr HW, Meeker Jr IA. Sacrococcygeal teratomas in infants and children; a report of 40 cases. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1951; 92 (03) 341-354
  • 3 Moore SW, Satgé D, Sasco AJ, Zimmermann A, Plaschkes J. The epidemiology of neonatal tumours. Report of an international working group. Pediatr Surg Int 2003; 19 (07) 509-519
  • 4 Budin P. Note sur une tumeur de cord ombilical. Prog Med (Paris) 1878; 1878 (02) 550-551
  • 5 Gonzalez-Crussi F. Extragonadal Teratomas. Washington, DC: Armed Forced Inst. of Pathology; 1982
  • 6 Joachim VK, Elvira S, Lieve V. An immature teratoma of the umbilical cord: a case report and review of the literature. Med J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 5 (03) 1106
  • 7 Adams KV, Bernieh A, Morris RW, Saad AG. Umbilical cord teratomas associated with congenital malformations. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2020; 144 (02) 156-159
  • 8 Wagner H, Baretton G, Wisser J, Babic R, Löhrs U. [Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Case report with literature review]. Pathologe 1993; 14 (06) 395-398
  • 9 Demir BC, Topal NB, Güneş EŞ, Yazıcı Z, Yalçınkaya U. Prenatal diagnosis of fetal umbilical cord teratoma. Case Rep Perinat Med 2014; 3 (02) 528
  • 10 Chavali LV, Bhaskar RV, Reddy JB. Immature teratoma at umbilicus region presenting as exomphalos: a case report with review of literature. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2014; 35 (03) 231-233
  • 11 Crahes M, Patrier S, Ickowicz V. et al. [Giant teratoma of the umbilical cord associated with foetal malformations: a morphological and cytogenetic study]. Ann Pathol 2013; 33 (01) 57-61
  • 12 Keene DJ, Shawkat E, Gillham J, Craigie RJ. Rare combination of exomphalos with umbilical cord teratoma. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2012; 40 (04) 481
  • 13 Bersch W, Mayer M, Dengler HM. [Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Report of a clinical case]. Pathologe 1985; 6 (01) 38-40
  • 14 Del Sordo R, Fratini D, Cavaliere A. [Teratoma of umbilical cord: a case report and literature review]. Pathologica 2006; 98 (04) 224-228
  • 15 Heckmann U, Cornelius HV, Freudenberg V. [Teratoma of the umbilical cord. A case contribution on true umbilical teratomas]. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 1972; 32 (07) 605-607
  • 16 Kreyberg L. A teratoma-like swelling in the umbilical cord possibly of acardius nature. J Pathol Bacteriol 1958; 75 (01) 109-112
  • 17 Satgé DC, Laumond MA, Desfarges F, Chenard MP. An umbilical cord teratoma in a 17-week-old fetus. Prenat Diagn 2001; 21 (04) 284-288
  • 18 Kreczy A, Alge A, Menardi G, Gassner I, Gschwendtner A, Mikuz G. Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Case report with review of the literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1994; 118 (09) 934-937
  • 19 Hargitai B, Csabai L, Bán Z. et al. Rare case of exomphalos complicated with umbilical cord teratoma in a fetus with trisomy 13. Fetal Diagn Ther 2005; 20 (06) 528-533
  • 20 Haendly P. Teratom der Nabelschnur. Arch Gynakol 1923; 116 (03) 578-588
  • 21 Smith D, Majmudar B. Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Hum Pathol 1985; 16 (02) 190-193
  • 22 Fujikura T, Wellings SR. A teratoma-like mass on the placenta of a malformed infant. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1964; 89 (06) 824-825

Address for correspondence

Fabian Doktor, MD (Medical Doctor)
Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig Faculty of Medicine
Liebigstraße 20a, Leipzig, Saxony 04103
Germany   

Publication History

Received: 21 December 2020

Accepted: 18 January 2021

Article published online:
03 February 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

  • References

  • 1 Kaatsch P, Grabow D, Spix C. German Childhood Cancer Registry - Annual Report 2018 (1980–2017). Mainz: Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI) at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; 2019
  • 2 Gross RW, Clatworthy Jr HW, Meeker Jr IA. Sacrococcygeal teratomas in infants and children; a report of 40 cases. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1951; 92 (03) 341-354
  • 3 Moore SW, Satgé D, Sasco AJ, Zimmermann A, Plaschkes J. The epidemiology of neonatal tumours. Report of an international working group. Pediatr Surg Int 2003; 19 (07) 509-519
  • 4 Budin P. Note sur une tumeur de cord ombilical. Prog Med (Paris) 1878; 1878 (02) 550-551
  • 5 Gonzalez-Crussi F. Extragonadal Teratomas. Washington, DC: Armed Forced Inst. of Pathology; 1982
  • 6 Joachim VK, Elvira S, Lieve V. An immature teratoma of the umbilical cord: a case report and review of the literature. Med J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 5 (03) 1106
  • 7 Adams KV, Bernieh A, Morris RW, Saad AG. Umbilical cord teratomas associated with congenital malformations. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2020; 144 (02) 156-159
  • 8 Wagner H, Baretton G, Wisser J, Babic R, Löhrs U. [Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Case report with literature review]. Pathologe 1993; 14 (06) 395-398
  • 9 Demir BC, Topal NB, Güneş EŞ, Yazıcı Z, Yalçınkaya U. Prenatal diagnosis of fetal umbilical cord teratoma. Case Rep Perinat Med 2014; 3 (02) 528
  • 10 Chavali LV, Bhaskar RV, Reddy JB. Immature teratoma at umbilicus region presenting as exomphalos: a case report with review of literature. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2014; 35 (03) 231-233
  • 11 Crahes M, Patrier S, Ickowicz V. et al. [Giant teratoma of the umbilical cord associated with foetal malformations: a morphological and cytogenetic study]. Ann Pathol 2013; 33 (01) 57-61
  • 12 Keene DJ, Shawkat E, Gillham J, Craigie RJ. Rare combination of exomphalos with umbilical cord teratoma. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2012; 40 (04) 481
  • 13 Bersch W, Mayer M, Dengler HM. [Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Report of a clinical case]. Pathologe 1985; 6 (01) 38-40
  • 14 Del Sordo R, Fratini D, Cavaliere A. [Teratoma of umbilical cord: a case report and literature review]. Pathologica 2006; 98 (04) 224-228
  • 15 Heckmann U, Cornelius HV, Freudenberg V. [Teratoma of the umbilical cord. A case contribution on true umbilical teratomas]. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 1972; 32 (07) 605-607
  • 16 Kreyberg L. A teratoma-like swelling in the umbilical cord possibly of acardius nature. J Pathol Bacteriol 1958; 75 (01) 109-112
  • 17 Satgé DC, Laumond MA, Desfarges F, Chenard MP. An umbilical cord teratoma in a 17-week-old fetus. Prenat Diagn 2001; 21 (04) 284-288
  • 18 Kreczy A, Alge A, Menardi G, Gassner I, Gschwendtner A, Mikuz G. Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Case report with review of the literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1994; 118 (09) 934-937
  • 19 Hargitai B, Csabai L, Bán Z. et al. Rare case of exomphalos complicated with umbilical cord teratoma in a fetus with trisomy 13. Fetal Diagn Ther 2005; 20 (06) 528-533
  • 20 Haendly P. Teratom der Nabelschnur. Arch Gynakol 1923; 116 (03) 578-588
  • 21 Smith D, Majmudar B. Teratoma of the umbilical cord. Hum Pathol 1985; 16 (02) 190-193
  • 22 Fujikura T, Wellings SR. A teratoma-like mass on the placenta of a malformed infant. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1964; 89 (06) 824-825

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 (A) Ruptured omphalocele with umbilical cord teratoma (size of 7cm) at birth and (B) after resection. (C) Proximal duodenum (o) leading into the distal cystic duodenum (*) with a caliber change of 6:1 followed by proximal stenotic jejunum (#).
Zoom Image
Fig. 2 (A) First revisional laparotomy on the 29th day of life. Opening of the megaduodenum, nasogastric tube is bridging the lumen to the following small bowel. Second part of the duodenum after tapering (#). Distal duodenum (o). (B) Reconstructed duodenum and proximal jejunum after tapering.