Total rupture of giant sacrococcygeal teratoma.

Sacrococcygeal teratomata exceeding 20% of the infant's weight are rare. These tumours often cause problems during delivery such as obstruction and rupture of the tumour. By means of prenatal ultrasound screening programmes this condition can be diagnosed in utero and the delivery can take place safely. When dealing with an infant with ruptured giant sacrococcygeal teratoma the condition of the child is incorrectly regarded as too poor to warrant surgery. By prompt correction of fluid and electrolyte disturbance and emergency ligation of the bleeding vessels the infant can, however, be saved with an excellent later prognosis.