Introduction:
Intrapericardial teratomas come from three different germ
layers3. They are very rare, (incidence of
0.05-0.15%) but very aggressive3,4,6. Their early
detection and interventions are very important for effective management
of the fetus. Most intrapericardial teratomas are attached to the aorta
and tend to compress the right side of the heart
structures1,5. As a result, fetuses can present with
ascites, anasarca, and hydrops fetalis2,5,8. Once
evidence of hydrops is present in a fetus, the survival rate decreases
when compared to a non-hydrops fetus (citation).
Therefore, early detection and good prenatal monitoring is essential.
Prenatal period detection of intrapericardial teratomas is useful as
interventions such as pericardiocentesis, or thoraco/pericardio-amniotic
shunt can be done2,5,8. Tumor excision is the
definitive treatment as its rapid growth could lead to right atrium,
superior vena cava, and inferior vena cava
compression7. This compression leads to ascites,
hydrops fetalis, and/or anasarca. In our unique case a 2 month-old
female did not present with the usual features of intrapericardial
teratomas such as hydrops fetalis, anasarca, or ascites, and instead
presented with cardiac arrest after an upper respiratory infection.