A Case of Primary Mediastinal Embryonal Carcinoma Arising in the Posterior Mediastinum.

Lim, Keun Woo; Kang, Hong Mo; Kim, Tae Joong; Im, Eul soon; Kang, Kyung Eui; Han, Min Soo; Yoo, Jee Hong

doi:1999.47.1.117

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 47(1); 1999 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1999;47(1):117-122.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1999.47.1.117 Published online July 1, 1999.

A Case of Primary Mediastinal Embryonal Carcinoma Arising in the Posterior Mediastinum.

Keun Woo Lim, Hong Mo Kang, Tae Joong Kim, Eul soon Im, Kyung Eui Kang, Min Soo Han, Jee Hong Yoo

Department of Internal medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul Korea.

Abstract

Primary germ cell tumors of the mediastinum are rare, accounting 1-5% among all germ cell tumors and 10% of all neoplasms in this area. Approximately 85% of these tumors occur in men with a mean age 29 years. These tumors are mainly found in the anterior mediastinum and appear grossly as large lobulated masses. They are frequently invasive at the time of diagnosis and almost 90% of patients are symptomatic. Primary nonseminomatous germ cell tumor arising in the posterior mediastinum is very rare. We report a case of 37- year old male arising from the posterior mediastinum. Serum tumors markers including alpha-fetoprotein and beta-hCG which are usually elevated in germ cell tumor were not elevated. He was found to have a primary mediastinal embryonal carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis at open exploration. He was treated with debulking surgery and cisplatin-based chemotherapy, died of sepsis after 15 months postoperatively.

Key Words: Primary mediastinal germ cell tumor, Embryonal carcinoma, Posterior mediastinum