Incidentally noticed abdominal lump; no constipation, no urinary retention or any other complaints. Growth and development - normal

Incidentally noticed abdominal lump; no constipation, no urinary retention or any other complaints. Growth and development - normal

  • Incidentally noticed abdominal lump
  • No constipation, no urinary retention or any other complaints
  • Growth and Development - normal 

Examination:

  • Ill defined ballotable mass. 
  • No organomegaly or lymphadenopathy.

FINDINGS:

  • CT CHEST, ABDOMEN PELVIS WITH IV CONTRAST
  • A.
    • The lesion is composed of large fatty attenuation components, few foci of ossification and multiple cystic components.
    • Superiorly the lesion extends upto the left subdiaphragmatic space and inferiorly the lesion is displacing adjacent bowel loops.
  • B. Anteriorly the lesion abuts and displaces the left kidney with secondary compression on the renal pelvis, abuts the body and tail of pancreas.
  • C.
    • Superiorly, the lesion abuts fundus of stomach, and the spleen.
    • Posteriorly the lesion is abuts the left psoas muscle.
  • D. The splenic artery and vein, left renal vein and artery are coursing along the anterior margin of the lesion.

DIAGNOSIS:

  • Non secretory Germ cell tumor – Teratoma.

DISCUSSION:

  • Germ cell tumors are broadly classified as gonadal or extra gonadal depending on their site of origin.
  • The extra-gonadal distribution of teratomas in order of decreasing frequency is as: the anterior mediastinum, the retroperitoneal space, the presacral and coccygeal areas, pineal, and other intracranial sites, the neck and abdominal viscera. 
  • Teratoma consisting of tissue derived from embryonic ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm are the most common extragonadal germ cell tumors in children. 
  • In general, the prognosis of pediatric EGCTs worsens with increasing age.
  • Pediatric EGCTs can be further classified into 
    • presenting during the congenital/neonatal period (birth to 6 months),
    • during childhood (7 months–12 years)
    • after 12 years,
    • with the youngest age group having the most favorable prognosis and lowest recurrence rate.
  • Usually, retroperitoneal teratomas are asymptomatic.
  • Symptoms - back or abdominal pain, GI symptoms secondary to compression of adjacent structures.
  • Signs - palpable abdominal mass, tenderness, and distension.

PLAIN RADIOGRAPH:

  • soft tissue mass with calcification 
  • opacity or a radiolucent mass that displaces the digestive spaces 

USG:

  • acoustic shadow and occasionally fat-fluid levels. 
  • can be cystic or completely solid in appearance.

CT:

  • Complex mass containing well-circumscribed fluid component, adipose tissue, and calcification.
  • Presence of fat-fluid levels in peritoneum is reliable sign of intraperitoneal rupture.

MRI:

  • Demonstrates invasion of the adjacent organs and delineating cyst contents.

Differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal teratomas can be:

  • Renal cyst
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Adrenal tumors
  • Retroperitoneal fibromas
  • Sarcoma
  • Hemangioma
  • Xanthogranuloma.

REFERENCES:

  • Mary Elizabeth Guerra, Savanah D. Gisriel, Emily Christison-Lagay, Matthew A. Hornick,Giant retroperitoneal teratoma in an asymptomatic 6-month-old,Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports,Volume 65,2021,ISSN 2213-5766,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2020.101768.
  • Jignesh Rathod, Sujan Patel, Ketul S. Barot, Saloni H. Naik, Ravi Bhatt, Jay Chotaliya,
    Massive primary retroperitoneal immature teratoma : A case report, International Journal of Surgery Case Reports,Volume 81,2021,ISSN 2210-2612, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.105775.
  • Sarin YK. Peritonitis caused by rupture of infected retroperitoneal teratoma. APSP J Case Rep 2012; 3: 2

Dr VIKHYATH SHETTY 
Consultant Radiologist 
Manipal Hospital, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru.

Dr SHIKHA JOSHI
Radiology resident
Manipal Hospital, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru.