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>> THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF A CERVICAL TERATOMA IS VERY
DIFFERENT FROM AN SCT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE NECK, OBVIOUSLY,
AND IT COMPRESSES STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN THE NECK
THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THE USUAL MORBIDITY RELATES TO THE AIRWAY--HOW MUCH
COMPRESSION AND DAMAGE TO THE AIRWAY THAT WAS CAUSED
BEFORE BIRTH.
AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN WHO'VE REQUIRED TRACHEOSTOMIES
FOR AS LONG AS A YEAR OR TWO UNTIL THE AIRWAY PROBLEM EITHER
GETS BETTER ON ITS OWN OR IT CAN BE FIXED.
>> IN FETAL LIFE, THAT BIG UGLY MASS HAS BEEN COMPRESSING THAT
AIRWAY THE ENTIRE TIME SO OUR CARTILAGE IN OUR AIRWAY IS VERY
FLOPPY AND IT TAKES A GOOD COUPLE YEARS FOR IT TO BECOME
VERY STIFF.
>> MOST OF THE TIME THE AIRWAY CAN RE-FORM AND END UP BEING
ADEQUATE WITHOUT RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.
>> IN MANY CASES WITH A LARGE CERVICAL TERATOMA,
THE LESION APPEARS TO ARISE FROM NEAR TO THE THYROID SO IT WOULD
NOT BE UNUSUAL TO NEED TO RESECT THE THYROID,
IN WHICH CASE THE CHILD WOULD NEED LIFELONG THYROID
REPLACEMENT THERAPY, A MEDICATION A DAY SORT OF THING.
>> --WHICH ACTUALLY IS VERY EFFECTIVE AND COMPATIBLE
WITH A FAIRLY NORMAL LIFE.
>> ONCE THE TUMOR COMES OFF IN A PLANE, IT'S NOT LIKE THERE
ARE A BUNCH OF INCISIONS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
IT'S REALLY ONE INCISION.
>> SHE JUST HAS SOME SCARRING BUT YOU CAN HARDLY TELL IT
STARTS HERE AND IT GOES DOWN TO HERE.
BUT IT'S JUST THAT, YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY NOTICE THAT.
>> AND WE CAN USUALLY REMOVE THE ENTIRE TERATOMA SURGICALLY AND
HAVE VERY GOOD OUTCOMES WITH ESSENTIALLY MINIMAL CHANCE OF
RECURRENCE OR OTHER PROBLEMS.