Surgical experience and cosmetic outcomes in children with sacrococcygeal teratoma.

To determine the extent of progress in the treatment of sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs), the experience of 25 patients over a period of 30 years between 1972 and 2002 was evaluated. The medical records of the children were reviewed for demographics, histology, clinical course, bladder, anorectal and sexual function, and outcome. In particular, analysis of long-term cosmetic results after surgery for SCT was performed. The follow-up period ranged from 1 day to 396 months (median, 212 months). In more than half of the cases, unsatisfactory cosmetic long-term results after surgery for SCT were found. This study demonstrates that poor cosmetic results in the buttock region were the most common long-term complication after surgery for SCT, possibly leading to further corrective operations in later life. A better surgical procedure for closing the buttock region in the treatment of SCT should be discussed. Early assessment of bladder, anorectal, and sexual function along with long-term cosmetic results should be integrated into the well-established long-term oncology follow-up program. Moreover one has to keep in mind that cesarean section could become necessary as the primary delivery technique in female patients who have had surgery for SCT. More evaluations concerning this aspect are necessary.