title: The ultrasonographic appearance and outcome for fetuses with masses distorting the fetal face.
abstract: Our objective was to determine the appearance, cause, and outcome of fetal face masses diagnosed antenatally by ultrasonography. Over a 6 year period, 10 consecutive fetuses with facial masses were identified. Ultrasonographic findings, neonatal pathologic findings, and outcome data were correlated. Four (40%) of the 10 fetuses died, including one with a palatal teratoma associated with a Dandy-Walker malformation and three with intracranial teratomas--one of which was associated with hydrops fetalis. Among the survivors, one fetus had a dacryocystocele that was managed conservatively and one had drainage of a salivary gland cyst. The remaining four neonates had successful excision of their tumors in the neonatal period and survived; these infants had a nasal teratoma, a thyroid teratoma, a gingival granular cell tumor, and a scalp hemangioma. Four of the 10 pregnancies had associated polyhydramnios, three of which ended in stillbirth or neonatal death. In conclusion, 40% of the fetuses with antenatal diagnosis of fetal facial masses did not survive. If those with intracranial teratomas are removed from this group, one of seven (14%) fetuses with extracranial masses died. The intracranial teratomas were uniformly fatal. Polyhydramnios was associated with poor outcome.
mesh_terms: D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal