The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 79, 306-311, Copyright © 1980 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Intrapericardial teratoma in infancy
E Arciniegas, M Hakimi, ZQ Farooki and EW Green
Intrapericardial teratoma is a rare, congenital, pedunculated tumor,
usually attached to the ascending aorta and associated with massive
pericardial effusion, cardiac compression, and severe cardiorespiratory
distress in infants and young children. Echocardiography and cardiac
cineangiography are diagnostic and should be used promptly. The tumor is
generally benign and early surgical removal is curative. The case reports
of two infants who underwent successful surgical removal of their lesions
are presented.