SACROCOCCYGEAL TERATOMA

31 cases of sacrococcygeal teratoma from the Children's Hospital of Ziirich and 25 cases from the Children's Hospital of Tehran are evaluated and compared. In seven cases the tumors were organized. They contained parts of organs or rudimentary extremities. According to general experience the malignancy of tumors is higher in children who are operated on after their second to fourth month of life (35% versus4.5% in Ziirich, 37% versus 0% in Tehran). Our experience emphasizes the importance of an early extirpation of sacrococcygeal teratoma, even in cases with a relatively small looking external tumor. Because of the risk of a tumor recidive the coccyx should be removed in all cases.