[Sacrococcygeal teratomas: is there a place for in utero treatment of complicated forms? About three cases].

The majority of sacrococcygeal teratomas diagnosed before birth can be managed by planned delivery and postnatal surgery. However, large tumors early in gestation may result in placentomegaly, hydrops and fetal death and a preeclampsia-like syndrome in the mother. This is due to high output cardiac failure in the fetus caused by arteriovenous shunting through the tumor. In these cases, in utero treatment may offer improved chances of survival, and emerging technologies should lower fetal and maternal morbidity. Nevertheless, these therapeutics need to be correctly evaluated.