Giant intracranial teratoma and lack of cortical development in a fetus. Case report.
Antenatal diagnosis of an intracranial neoplasm is extremely rare. The authors describe a case in which a 21-week-old fetus was found, by using fetal ultrasonography, to have a large intracranial mass. Fetal magnetic resonance (MR) images, obtained at 21 and 25 weeks' gestation, supported the diagnosis of a teratoma. As the tumor increased in size, near-complete brain atrophy ensued. Premature labor was induced, and a nonviable fetus died within minutes of delivery. Postmortem analysis confirmed a teratoma occupying a major portion of the intracranial space. In cases in which abnormal brain development is suspected in a fetus, the use of fetal MR imaging can give a clearer picture of the pathological entity, which may allow for a more accurate diagnosis. The usefulness of fetal MR imaging in monitoring brain development and tumor growth during treatment planning is discussed.
Muhonen
Michael G
MG
Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California, USA. mmuhonen@aol.com
Bierman
Jeremy S
JS
Hussain
Namath S
NS
Hanley
Heather A
HA
Hussain
Sara S
SS
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D047109:Fetal Development; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal