Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 14, Issue 9 673-678, Copyright © 1995 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
The ultrasonographic appearance and outcome for fetuses with masses distorting the fetal face
T. D. Shipp, B. Bromley and B. Benacerraf
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Our objective was to determine the appearance, cause, and outcome of fetal
face masses diagnosed antenatally by ultrasonography. Over a 6 year period,
10 consecutive fetuses with facial masses were identified. Ultrasonographic
findings, neonatal pathologic findings, and outcome data were correlated.
Four (40%) of the 10 fetuses died, including one with a palatal teratoma
associated with a Dandy-Walker malformation and three with intracranial
teratomas--one of which was associated with hydrops fetalis. Among the
survivors, one fetus had a dacryocystocele that was managed conservatively
and one had drainage of a salivary gland cyst. The remaining four neonates
had successful excision of their tumors in the neonatal period and
survived; these infants had a nasal teratoma, a thyroid teratoma, a
gingival granular cell tumor, and a scalp hemangioma. Four of the 10
pregnancies had associated polyhydramnios, three of which ended in
stillbirth or neonatal death. In conclusion, 40% of the fetuses with
antenatal diagnosis of fetal facial masses did not survive. If those with
intracranial teratomas are removed from this group, one of seven (14%)
fetuses with extracranial masses died. The intracranial teratomas were
uniformly fatal. Polyhydramnios was associated with poor outcome.
