Abstract
Germ cell tumors (GCT) are common in ovaries and testes. They are the most frequent tumors in the adolescent/young adult age group, with less than 2% being diagnosed above 55–60 years of age. Extragonadal GCT usually occurs in the midline of the body, such as the mediastinum, central nervous system, retroperitoneum, and sacrococcygeal region. Mediastinum is the most common location of extragonadal GCT. Primary mediastinal GCT (PMGCT) accounts for 15% of anterior mediastinal tumors in adults, constituting 1–3% of all germ cell malignancies. The pathological types include teratoma, seminoma (corresponding to testicular seminoma, ovarian dysgerminoma, and GCT of the central nervous system), yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor), embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, and mixed GCT. Teratoma is relatively common, which can be divided into benign and malignant, while non-teratogenic GCTs are malignant and clinically rare.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
McKenney JK, Heerema-McKenney A, Rouse RV. Extragonadal germ cell tumors: a review with emphasis on pathologic features, clinical prognostic variables, and differential diagnostic considerations. Adv Anat Pathol. 2007;14:69–92.
Sano K, Matsutani M, Seto T. So-called intracranial germ cell tumours: personal experiences and a theory of their pathogenesis. Neurol Res. 1989;11:118–26.
Gurda GT, Vanden Bussche CJ, Yonescu R, et al. Sacrococcygeal teratomas: clinico-pathological characteristics and isochromosome 12p status. Mod Pathol. 2014;27:562–8.
Eini R, Stoop H, Gillis AJ, et al. Role of SOX2 in the etiology of embryonal carcinoma, based on analysis of the NCCIT and NT2 cell lines. PLoS One. 2014;9:e83585.
Tian Z, Liu H, Li S, et al. Surgical treatment of benign mediastinal teratoma: summary of experience of 108 cases. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2020;15:36
Moran CA, Suster S. Primary germ cell tumors of the mediastinum: I. Analysis of 322 cases with special emphasis on teratomatous lesions and a proposal for histopathologic classification and clinical staging. Cancer. 1997;80:681–90.
Motzer RJ, Amsterdam A, Prieto V, et al. Teratoma with malignant transformation: diverse malignant histologies arising in men with germ cell tumors. J Urol. 1998;159:133–8.
Giannatempo P, Pond GR, Sonpavde G, et al. Treatment and clinical outcomes of patients with teratoma with somatic-type malignant transformation: an international collaboration. J Urol. 2016;196:95–100.
Hainsworth JD. Diagnosis, staging and clinical characteristics of the patient with mediastinal germ cel l carcinoma. ChYET Surg Clin N Am. 2002;12:6652–720.
Hurt RD, Bruckman JE, Farrow GM, et al. Primary anterior mediastinal seminoma. Cancer. 1982;49:1658–63.
Sung MT, Maclennan GT, Lopez-Beltran A, et al. Primary mediastinal seminoma: a comprehensive assessment integrated with histology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosome 12p abnormalities in 23 cases. Am J Surg Pathol. 2008;32:146–55.
Polansky SM, Barwick KW, Ravin CE. Primary mediastinal seminoma. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1979;132:17–21.
Teilum G. Oestrogen production by Sertoli cells in the etiology of benign senile hypertrophy of the HUman prostate; testicular lipoid cell ratio and oestrogen-androgen quotient in HUman male. Acta Endocrinol. 1950;4:43–62.
Teilum G. Endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary and testis comparative morphogenesis of the so-called mesoephroma ovarii (Schiller) and extraembryonic (yolk sac allantoic) structures of the rat’s placenta. Cancer. 1959;41:1092–105.
Teilum G. Classification of endodermal sinus tumors (mesoblastoma vitellinum) and so-called embryonal carcinoma of the ovary. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1965;64:407–20.
Truong LD, Harris L, Mattioli C, et al. Endodermal sinus tumor of the mediastinum. A report of seven cases and review of the literature. Cancer. 1986;58:730–9.
Zhang S, Gao H, Wang XA, et al. Primary choriocarcinoma in mediastinum with multiple lung metastases in a male patient: a case report and a review of the literature. Thorac Cancer. 2014;5:463–7.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Science Press
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wang, HM., Zhang, S. (2021). Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumor. In: Zhang, S. (eds) Diagnostic Imaging of Mediastinal Diseases. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9930-9_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9930-9_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-15-9929-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-15-9930-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)