[Importance of long-term follow-up of infants operated of sacro-coccygeal teratoma].

Sacro-coccygeal teratoma is the tumor which is most frequently diagnosed in infants. In spite of the sometimes spectacular appearance of the tumor, the surgical treatment generally permits a definitive cure of the disease without any significant functional or esthetic sequellae. The risk of malignant recurrence, even after removal of an apparently benign mass is not totally excluded and may imply to resort to combined treatment by surgery and chemotherapy. The baby must be carefully followed-up and the serum levels of alpha-foetoprotein (a specific tumor marker), and sometimes beta-HCG must be regularly measured. Local surveillance is mandatory to prevent any loss of time in case of recurrence.