Congenital anorectal malformations. Harbingers of sacrococcygeal teratomas
F. Moazam and J. L. Talbert
Since 1973, seven infants treated at the University of Florida,
Gainesville, for congenital anorectal anomalies have been found to have
concomitant sacrococcygeal teratomas. As anorectal anomalies occur in
approximately one in every 5,000 live births and sacrococcygeal teratomas
are noted in one in every 40,000 live births, this presentation would
suggest a prevalence that precludes a random association. The presence of
significant anorectal strictures in these patients resulted in a delay in
the diagnosis of the presacral teratomas. As the frequency of malignant
change in sacrococcygeal teratomas has been documented to increase
proportionately with age, early diagnosis and excision of these lesions is
essential. Our experience with these children suggests that the presence of
congenital anorectal malformations in infancy should raise the physician's
index of suspicion for associated sacrococcygeal teratomas.
