title: Surgical anatomy of large retroperitoneal teratomas in infants: report of two cases.
abstract: We report on two infants of 11 and 12 months of age, respectively, with large solid-cystic retroperitoneal tumors. Complete resection was achieved, and both children are doing well over a follow-up of more than 17 months. The presented paper focuses on surgical anatomy of this very rare type of tumor. Teratomas were located mainly within the upper abdominal cavity, and both tumors displaced the pancreas in an anterior position. The following anatomical features were observed (1) displacement of surrounding organs, (2) deformation and elongation of large retroperitoneal vessels, (3) fibrous incorporation of large vessels by the tumor pseudocapsule, (4) wrapping of anterior aortic branches by lobes and fingers of the tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Marienhospital Herne, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Widumer Str. 8, D-44627 Herne, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf-Bodo
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tröbs
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tannapfel
keywords: anatomy; germ cells; retropancreatic; retroperitoneal; teratoma