Early Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Intracranial Teratoma and Approach to Fetal Intracranial Masses: Case Report


Kimya Y., Atalay M. A., Cengiz C., Akpinar F.

TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI, vol.31, no.5, pp.1306-1309, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Abstract

Congenital intracranial tumors are infrequent lesions of central nervous system in pediatric age group. The most common lesion in this group is teratoma. The prognosis of intracranial teratomas is poor. Overall survival and live birth rates are low in cases that are diagnosed in prenatal period. Obstetric ultrasound is the preferred diagnostic method. However in selected cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be helpful in diagnosis. MRI may also be helpful for determining the degree of damage to the fetal brain and determining the prognosis of pregnancy. Current report presents a case of fetal brain teratoma which is diagnosed at 22th weeks of pregnancy. To our best knowledge, this case represents the second earliest case in medical literature, which follows the intracranial teratoma case diagnosed at 14th weeks of pregnancy. Space occupying mass in fetal cranium with smooth borders and heterogenous internal echogenity and secondary obstructive hydrocephalus were determined with ultrasonography. In this respect, the findings established with MRI were not beyond the ultrasonographical evidences. MRI did not give additional benefit in terms of diagnosis and management of the pregnancy in this case. Sonographic and MRI findings as well as obstetric approach are discussed in this report.