Abstrakt
Intrapericardial teratoma is an extremely rare condition diagnosed by prenatal sonography. It usually arises from the base of the heart anteriorly, where it is wedged between the aortic root and the superior vena cava.
The diagnosis is based on the finding of an intrapericardial heterogeneous mass accompanied by a pericardial effusion. Intrapericardial teratoma, the second most frequent primitive cardiac tumor after rhabdomyoma in neonates, usually is benign.
It may lead to a rapid progression of fetal hydrops with cardiac tamponade and lung compression. A pericardio-amniotic shunt in fetuses with a large pericardial effusion may prevent in utero death or severe respiratory distress after birth.