[Pre-natal retroperitoneal mass: teratoma or fetus in fetu?]. / Masa prenatal retroperitoneal: teratoma o fetus in fetu?

BACKGROUND: Several case reports in the literature brought to discussion the distinction criteria between fetus in fetu and teratoma. CASE REPORT: The authors present a case report of a premature newborn boy, evaluated for a capsulated abdominal mass with prenatal diagnosis pointing to possible malignant lesion. A CT scan showed an expansive, retroperitoneal lesion, from kidneys to pelvis, sacrum and coccyx, with solid, cystic and fatty areas; the fine needle aspiration was inconclusive, and he underwent surgery on day 9 with partial resection of the lesion. A new procedure to complete the excision was performed 8 months later. The histopathologic examination of the two fragments showed mature and organized components of nervous system, respiratory and digestive apparatus (liver and pancreas included), thymus, nervous ganglia, skin and adnexa, musculoskeletal and brown adipose tissues; cartilage and several focus of calcification. These components showed a craniocaudal orientation, but no evidence of organoid formation. DISCUSSION: This case presents features of both teratoma and fetus in fetu. The assumption of either one of the diagnosis has prognostic implications, with resulting differences in clinical follow up and expectations about the child's health.

Masa prenatal retroperitoneal: ¿teratoma o fetus in fetu? / Pre-natal retroperitoneal mass: teratoma or fetus in fetu?

Introdución. Varios artículos de la literatura médica han hecho cobrar vigencia la discusión sobre criterios de distinción entre fetus infetu y teratoma. Caso clínico. Se presenta un caso de un recién nacido prematuro, evaluado por demostrar una masa abdominal encapsulada con signos de malignidad, que había sido diagnosticada en el período prenatal. La exploración de TAC demostró una lesión expansiva, retroperitoneal, que abarcaba de riñones a pelvis, sacro y cóccix, con áreas sólidas, quísticas y de grasa; la biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina era no concluyente, y se procedió a intervención en el noveno día de vida, con la resección parcial de la lesión. Un nuevo procedimiento para completarla exéresis de la masa fue realizado a los 8 meses. El examen histopatológico demostró componentes maduros y organizados del sistema nervioso, aparato respiratorio y digestivo (hígado y páncreas incluidos),timo, tejido adiposo marrón, ganglios del sistema nervioso autónomo, piel y anejos cutáneos, tejido muscular liso y estriado, cartílago y varios focos de calcificación. Estos componentes demostraban una orientación cráneo-caudal, pero no formaban órganos distintos. Discusión. Este caso presenta características de teratoma y fetus infetu. La asunción de cualquiera de los diagnósticos tiene implicaciones pronosticas, originando diferencias en el seguimiento médico y en las expectativas clínicas sobre la salud de niño (AU)

Background. Several case reports in the literature brought to discussion the distinction criteria between fetus in fetu and teratoma. Case report. The authors present a case report of a premature newborn boy, evaluated for a capsulated abdominal mass with prenatal diagnosis pointing to possible malignant lesion. A CT scan showed an expansive, retroperitoneal lesion, from kidneys to pelvis, sacrum and coccyx, with solid, cystic and fatty areas; the fine needle aspiration was inconclusive, and he underwent surgery on day 9 with partial resection of the lesion. A new procedure to complete the excision was performed 8months later. The histopathology examination of the two fragments showed mature and organized components of nervous system, respiratory and digestive apparatus (liver and pancreas included), thymus, nervous ganglia, skin and adnexa, musculoskeletal and brown adipose tissues; cartilage and several focus of calcification. These components showed a craniocaudal orientation, but no evidence of organoid formation. Discussion. This case presents features of both teratoma and fetus in fetu. The assumption of either one of the diagnosis has prognostic implications, with resulting differences in clinical follow up and expectations about the child’s health (AU)

Febrile convulsions in developing rats induce a hyperanxious phenotype later in life.

Exposure of rodent pups to hyperthermia constitutes one of the best known models of febrile seizures. Studies designed to evaluate the behavioral impact of heat-induced convulsions (HCs) have focused mainly on hippocampus-dependent tasks and produced rather conflicting results. In this study, we assessed, in detail, developmental milestones, emotional behavior, and cognitive performance in animals submitted to HCs on Postnatal Day 10. There was no alteration in the acquisition of neurological reflexes, but there was an anticipation of eye opening in animals exposed to hyperthermia. As adults, the locomotor and exploratory behavior of these rats was unaffected. Interestingly, animals exposed to hyperthermia displayed signs of increased anxiety in the elevated-plus maze, although these signs were not associated with increased susceptibility to depression-like behavior. Additionally, we failed to observe impairments in spatial and working memory tasks. In conclusion, HCs at a particular period of neurodevelopment determine a hyperanxious phenotype later in life.