Almaty surgeons remove 2 kg sacrococcygeal teratoma from newborn girl

September 7, 2026 at 10:14 AM2 min

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Surgeons at Almaty's Center for Pediatric Emergency Care removed a 2 kg sacrococcygeal teratoma from a newborn girl on August 19, one day after her birth. The tumor accounted for half of the infant's birth weight of over 4 kg. The girl is recovering and being discharged home.

Key Facts

The newborn girl was born on August 18 at 34 weeks of gestation via cesarean section, weighing over 4 kg.
The sacrococcygeal teratoma weighed 2 kg, equal to half of the infant's birth weight.
The tumor was detected during a prenatal screening at 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The operation was performed by surgeon Samatbek Myrzakhmet, assistant surgeon Begaly Torebek, and anesthesiologist-resuscitator Ulykpan Alseitov.
The girl is the fifth child and first daughter in the family after four sons.

The Operation

A team of neonatal resuscitators and surgeons from the Center for Pediatric Emergency Care arrived at the maternity hospital within hours of the birth on August 18. The infant was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit and prepared for surgery. The tumor removal was performed the next day, on August 19. Surgeon Samatbek Myrzakhmet described the operation as one of the most complex in the center's practice, noting the tumor's weight nearly matched that of the child. Immediately after removal, the surgical team performed plastic reconstruction, and the sutures are expected to be unnoticeable.

Medical Background

Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most common tumor in newborns, forming in utero and capable of growing with the child. At birth, the tumor was not malignant, but doctors warned it could become oncological within the first six months of life. The tumor consisted of tissues of various origins, including bone, soft tissue, and cystic cavities. The mother, Ayazhan, underwent several consultations with surgeons at the Center for Pediatric Emergency Care after the diagnosis at 20 weeks. At 34 weeks of pregnancy, she was admitted to the maternity hospital with abdominal pain and underwent an immediate cesarean section.