title: Management of fetal mediastinal teratoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mediastinal teratomas are rare congenital germ cell tumors that prenatally can compress mediastinal structures and cause hydrops. Two possible presentations of massive fetal mediastinal teratoma include hydrops leading to fetal demise, or fetal esophageal and airway compression causing late-gestation polyhydramnios and preterm labor. The authors present 2 cases of fetal mediastinal teratoma that illustrate successful strategies for either of these presentations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 37-year-old woman carrying a fetus with a mediastinal mass and secondary hydrops at 23 weeks of gestation underwent in utero resection of the mass. Delivery was by cesarean delivery at 25 weeks because of preterm labor. A 24-year-old mother carrying a fetus with a mediastinal mass and severe polyhydramnios at 36 weeks of gestation underwent an ex utero intrapartum therapy procedure for establishment of an airway and tumor resection on uteroplacental support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These strategies resulted in physiologic improvement in the first case and controlled resection and resuscitation in the second. The first patient had significant sequelae of prematurity including bronchopulmonary dysplasia but is currently well at 9 months of age. The second patient is well at 1 year of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Massive fetal mediastinal teratoma can result in fetal or neonatal mortality by a variety of mechanisms. Optimal prenatal and perinatal management is required to salvage fetuses compromised by this lesion.
authors.affiliation: Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4318, USA.
authors.forename: Aziz M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: Holly L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: R Douglas
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Crombleholme
authors.forename: Lori J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: N Scott
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Adzick
authors.forename: Alan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Flake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D046128:Fetal Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013724:Teratoma / Q000601:surgery*