Mediastinum Teratoma Rupture: A Rare Manifestation

Authors

• João Tavares Medicine Department, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
• Bernardo Baptista Medicine Department, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
• Bebiana Gonçalves Medicine Department, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
• Pedro Raimundo Medicine Department, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
• Henrique Vaz Velho Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
• Alexandra Bayão Horta Medicine Department, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

joao.ttavares@hospitaldaluz.pt

Keywords

Abstract

We present the case of a 22-year-old man who presented with cough, haemoptysis and fever of 3 days’ duration. A teratoma had been diagnosed 2 years previously. Physical examination was unremarkable but laboratory tests showed anaemia, neutrophilic leucocytosis and an increase in C-reactive protein. Chest CT revealed a teratoma of the anterior mediastinum with post-obstructive pneumonitis suggestive of tumour rupture. Antibiotic treatment resulted in a good clinical outcome. The patient was submitted to a left upper lobectomy and pathological examination revealed a mature teratoma. Teratomas are germ cell tumours that are usually asymptomatic and their rupture is a rare event.