title: [Diagnosis and treatment of sacrococcygeal teratoma in adults: analysis of 17 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of sacrococcygeal teratoma in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 17 patients with sacrococcygeal teratoma confirmed by pathological examination, 9 males and 8 females, aged 20 - 53, were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correct diagnosis was made pre-operatively in 13 of the 17 patients. Two cases were misdiagnosed as with leiomyoma, and 2 cases as with sacrococcygeal cyst. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of teratoma in all 17 cases. Thirteen patients were followed up for 1 - 5 years post-operatively. Malignant change was seen in 1 case, and 1 patient died 1 year after operation. Two patients suffered a relapse and then fully recovered after re-operation, and the other 15 patients all recovered without relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sacrococcygeal teratoma in adults usually has no typical clinical symptom and signs and is often misdiagnosed. The pathologic examination is the base to make a definite diagnosis. Complete excision is necessary to prevent local recurrence and potential malignant transformation. The sacrococcygeal approach or combined abdominal-sacral approach is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China. ganjch@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Jian-chen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Shen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rong-zeng
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.forename: Zuo-xing
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult