Posterior mediastinal teratoma - Diagnosis by computerized tomography and ultrasonography

Abstract

Teratomas, usually arising in the anterior mediastinum , are very uncommon in the posterior mediastinum. Embryologic development of anterior mediastinal teratoma is thought to be from thymic anlage which descends from the third branchial cleft and pouch , while that of posterior mediastinal teratoma is thought to be from the remnant of notochord.CT findings of posterior mediastinal teratomas are not different from teratomas elsewhere, containing fat , calcification, soft tissue and thick walled cyst.Ultrasonographic findings are mixed echogenic mass containing cystic portion , highly reflective solid portion and area of acoustic shadowing.Authors recently experienced 2 cases of surgically proven posterior mediastinal teratoma and reoprt with review of literature.