ABSTRACT

Mediastinal germ cell tumors are a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant neoplasms with histology identical to some neoplasms of the testicle and ovary. Only a small percentage of primary germ cell tumors arise in the mediastinum, but this site accounts for the majority of all extragonadal germ cell tumors. Males are far more likely to have these types of tumors than are females. Careful physical examination and ultrasound of the testes are routine measures to exclude a gonadal germ cell tumor. Mediastinal germ cell tumors are frequently asymptomatic and may be identified incidentally as mediastinal masses on chest radiographs. When symptoms are present, they are usually the result of compression of the tracheobronchial tree. We report the case of a 12-years-old boy with a primary germ cell tumor in the mediastinum, one of the largest tumors reported in the medical literature, which represented a challenge for the team of surgeons.

KEYWORDS

Mediastinal tumor, germ cell tumor, mediastinal germ cell tumors.

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