Radiofrequency ablation of human fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma.
Fetuses with solid, highly vascularized sacrococcygeal teratomas can die as a result of the vascular steal syndrome. This is the first report in which a percutaneous technique, radiofrequency ablation, was used to interrupt blood flow to a sacrococcygeal teratoma in 4 human fetuses.A radiofrequency ablation probe was percutaneously inserted into the fetal tumor under ultrasonographic guidance. In 2 fetuses a significant portion of the tumor mass was ablated, whereas in the other 2 fetuses only the major feeding vessels were targeted.Two infants were delivered at 28 and 31 weeks' gestation, respectively, and are doing well. In 2 other cases hemorrhage into the tumor led to an unfavorable fetal outcome.Ablation of a majority of the tumor tissue in sacrococcygeal teratoma is not necessary and proved fatal in two instances. Targeted ablation of the feeding tumor vessels diminishes blood flow sufficiently to reverse high-output fetal heart failure.
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Related Subject Headings
- Ultrasonography, Prenatal
- Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
- Tocolytic Agents
- Teratoma
- Sacrococcygeal Region
- Pregnancy
- Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
- Indomethacin
- Humans
- Fetal Diseases
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Ultrasonography, Prenatal
- Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
- Tocolytic Agents
- Teratoma
- Sacrococcygeal Region
- Pregnancy
- Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
- Indomethacin
- Humans
- Fetal Diseases