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Early prenatal detection of a fast‐growing fetal epignathus
Author(s) -
Nagy Gyula R.,
Neducsin Bence P.,
Lázár Levente,
Stenczer Balázs,
Csapó Zsolt,
Rigó Jr János
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2012.01865.x
Subject(s) - medicine , polyhydramnios , teratoma , fetus , prenatal diagnosis , gestation , pregnancy , obstetrics , airway obstruction , airway , surgery , genetics , biology
Epignathus is a rare congenital orofacial teratoma. We present a case of a fast‐growing tumor, where early prenatal diagnosis was made and where fetopathological examination revealed the reason of the remarkable ultrasonographic signs and underlined the expected poor prognosis. Ultrasonographic examination at 18 weeks' gestation showed that there was a growing tumor protruding from the fetus's mouth. The fetal stomach could not be seen and extreme polyhydramnios was also detected. After counseling, the couple opted for a termination of pregnancy. Fetopathological examination showed that the tumorosus mass was not only protruding from the mouth, but also inexplicably grew downwards, was connected to the hard palate and the periosteum of the vertebral corpus, making an airway and esophageal obstruction, causing the ultrasonographic findings. Postnatal treatment and surgical removal of this tumor seemed to be impossible. In case of an early detection of a fast‐growing fetal epignathus, pregnancy termination should be considered.