Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (SCT)

A Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (SCT) is a rare type of tumour known as a teratoma that develops at the base of the coccyx (tailbone). 

Sacrococcygeal teratoma's are benign 75% of the time, malignant and life threatening 12% of the time and the remainder are considered 'immature teratoma's' that share benign and malignant features. 

Benign sacrococcygeal teratoma's are more likely to develop in younger children who are less than five months old and older children are more likely to develop malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma's.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma's are usually found in stages (depending on their relative extent inside or outside the body); 

- Type 1 - Are external (outside the body) tumours and are attached to the tailbone. 

- Type 2 - Have both internal (inside the body) and external parts. 

- Type 3 - Can be seen from the outside but most of the tumour is inside the abdomen. 

- Type 4 - The most serious: can't be seen from the outside - they are inside the body at tailbone level. 

A sacrococcygeal teratoma only occurs in about one in 35,000 births and is more common in female than male babies. They are exceedingly rare in adults. 

The tumour is usually diagnosed with an ultrasound exam. 

The cause of these tumours is unknown.