Cervical Teratoma

A cervical teratoma is considered to be a very rare congenital birth defect. It is a large tumor that is found in the neck and can be disfiguring.

If the tumor grows large enough, it can come out of the baby's mouth which will displace the ears and jaw line. The mass is part solid and part liquid. It surrounds the espophagus, thyroid and trachea and the infant will not be able to breathe on its own when it is born.

A fetus can be diagnosed with a cervical teratoma during a routine ultrasound. On ultrasound, a doctor will notice the fetus has an empty stomach, a hyperextended neck and may see the actual tumor. Once the diagnosis has been made, the mother will be placed into a high risk category and the fetus will be monitored closely by ultrasound.

When a fetus is diagnosed with this condition in utero, the chance of survival is good. Most doctors prefer a cesarean section delivery so that doctors are given sufficient time to safely deliver the baby. A doctor will make an airway by placing a breathing tube which will bypass the tumor. After the breathing tube is in place, the umbilical cord will be cute and the cesarean will be finished. The infant will then be taken to surgery to remove the tumor.