Clonal analysis of sacrococcygeal "teratomas"

Pediatr Pathol Lab Med. 1996 Nov-Dec;16(6):865-75. doi: 10.1080/15513819609168710.

Abstract

Congenital masses of the sacrococcygeal region commonly contain multiple tissues and have variously been subclassified as neoplasms or congenital hamartomas based on clinicopathological and embryological observations. We have used a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for nonrandom X chromosome inactivation to infer the clonality of three cogenital sacrococcygeal tumors previously diagnosed as teratomas. One solid immature teratoma was monoclonal, and a predominantly cystic histologically mature mass was polyclonal. A third immature teratoma was noninformative because of baseline asymmetry of polyclonal tissue X inactivation. We confirm that immature teratomas at this site appear to be monoclonal neoplasms and suggest that at least some histologically mature "teratomas" are more appropriately classified as hamartomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cloning, Molecular / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Androgen / analysis
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / congenital*
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sacrococcygeal Region / pathology*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / congenital*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / genetics
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Teratoma / congenital*
  • Teratoma / genetics
  • Teratoma / pathology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Androgen