The presacral space may contain one of several kinds of
tumor. The most common tumor here is
sacrococcygeal teratoma. Others are
retrorectal hamartoma (
tailgut cyst),
schwannoma,
ganglioneuroma, and
ependymoma. Also sometimes found here is an anterior
meningocele, a relatively mild form of
neural tube defect. Causes of increased pre-sacral space are:
ulcerative colitis,
granulomatous colitis,
lymphogranuloma venereum, and in postirradiation changes,
thrombosis of the
inferior vena cava and tuberculous proctitis, tumor of the sacrum or posterior wall of the rectum. Carcinomatous deposits in the pelvis can also cause presacral space widening. Presacral edema is common in patients with
heart failure who are confined to bed. ==References==