Surgical management of neonatal Sacrococcygeal teratoma in a tertiary care center of Eastern Nepal: An observational cross-sectional study in a resource-limited setting

Background: Despite being an uncommon tumor, sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is the most prevalent among newborns. SCT comprises tissue generated from many germ layers. It develops from Hensen's node's totipotent cells. The objective of our study was to determine the epidemiology and management of neonatal sacrococcygeal teratoma in the tertiary care center of Nepal in a resource-limited setting. Methods: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study that includes all cases of neonatal SCT admitted and treated in the department of Pediatrics and Neurosurgery, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, over the period from July 2017 to December 2021. The primary endpoint was to determine the epidemiological profile of neonates with SCT, their surgical management, and their complications. Results: Our investigation included a total of 15 patients. Nine of the fifteen cases were female (60%) and six were male (40%). Six newborns (40%) were diagnosed with SCT antenatally and were referred to our tertiary care institution for delivery. The size of the SCT varied ranging from less than 8 cm to greater than 11 cm. Surgical excision was performed. Only 1 case (6.6 %) expired due to complications. Conclusions: In our context, SCT is the most prevalent tumor in babies. Even with limited resources, great surgical results with a high level of satisfaction in patients and caregivers may be accomplished with sound clinical judgment and competency of the surgeons and clinicians. Prenatal diagnosis should be encouraged.