[Sacrococcygeal teratoma of delayed diagnosis: clinical and radiological features of two cases and therapeutic considerations].

The sacrococcygeal teratoma is a rare congenital embryonal tumor with high potential for malignant transformation and therefore considered as a neonate surgical emergency. The authors report two cases of sacrococcygeal teratomas with late diagnosis and treatment. The first case was a degenerated sacrococcygeal teratoma revealed by paraplegia in a 17-month-old infant with multiple metastasis and fatal outcome. The second case was a 14-month-old infant with a benign infected form of sacrococcygeal teratoma, successfully treated surgically. The authors highlight the diagnostic difficulties still existing in the tropical environment, and recall the need for a prenatal diagnosis and early treatment.