Mature mediastinal teratoma in adult

Mature teratoma of the thymus

“…Common differentials include thymoma, teratoma, thyroid disease, lymphoma, cystic lesions as well as neurogenic tumours (table 1). 2 Thymic neoplasms are a common cause and primary GCTs frequently arise within the thymus 3…”

“…Individuals may also present with dyspnoea, cough, back or shoulder pain, fever, bulging of the anterior chest wall or SVC obstruction 5. Rarely the teratoma may rupture or invade surrounding tissues leading to pleural and pericardial effusions, lipoid pneumonias and the expectoration of sebum or hair (trichoptysis), which is pathognomonic 3 7. In addition to these, systemic symptoms may result from the release of excess hormones, antibodies or cytokines 2…”

“…Calcification is present in 26% of cases and in exceptional cases, bone or teeth-like structures may be seen 2. A fat-fluid level that is considered to be specific to teratomas is an infrequent finding 3. CT remains the radiographic modality of choice to evaluate the true extent of a mature mediastinal teratoma.…”

CT features of mature teratoma in the mediastinum of two young adults—a report of two cases

“…Teratomas were defined as true tumors consisting of tissues nonnative to the part of the body in which they are developed (1953 by Willis) [1]. Germ cell tumors are commonly discovered in gonads; however, rarely, they are seen in extragonadal locations, and they can be located near or in the midline [3]. Out of all germ cell tumors, only 1-3% of them arise from the mediastinum, and amongst them, teratomas contribute as the rarer subtypes [2,3].…”

“…Germ cell tumors are commonly discovered in gonads; however, rarely, they are seen in extragonadal locations, and they can be located near or in the midline [3]. Out of all germ cell tumors, only 1-3% of them arise from the mediastinum, and amongst them, teratomas contribute as the rarer subtypes [2,3]. Teratomas of the anterior mediastinum are indolent and slowly developing of which 1/3 of the patients present no symptoms and are incidentally discovered in chest Xrays [1].…”