Giant mature cystic mediastinal teratoma: A case report

Germinal cell tumors can present as benign or malignant tumors with benign morphologies including benign teratoma and teratodermoid tumor. Teratomas, which range from benign and well-differentiated (i.e., mature) cystic lesions to solid and malignant (i.e., immature) lesions, can contain parts of many tissue types such as hair, teeth, fat, skin, muscle, and endocrine tissues. Cystic teratomas occasionally occur in the mediastinum (7%), retroperitoneum (4%), cervical (3%), and intracranial regions (2%). Here, we present the case of a 41-year-old female who presented with chest pain, chronic cough, and shortness of breath and was diagnosed with mature cystic mediastinal teratoma based on thoracic computed tomography (CT) and histopathological examination of tissue specimens collected using transthoracic needle aspiration core biopsy. She underwent tumor debulking by thoracotomy. Moreover, frozen section revelaed squamous epithelial cells with sebaceous and apocrine gland morphologies compatible with mature teratoma. At the 4-month follow-up, she had no significant complains or new lesions as assessed by CT scan.