Tuberc Respir Dis.  1999 Aug;47(2):265-271. 10.4046/trd.1999.47.2.265.

A Case of Mediastinal Teratoma Complicated by Spontaneous Rupture into Pleural Cavity

• Lee TH
• Lee SE
• Baik JJ
• Chung Y

• KMID: 2050182
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1999.47.2.265

Abstract

Patients with mediastinal teratoma are usually asymptomatic, but may develop symptoms by rupture into adjacent structures which result in pneumonia, hemoptysis, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or pneumothorax. Rarely, life-threatening acute respiratory distress require a emergenc y surgery. Rupture into pleural cavity may result in pleuritis and pleural effusion with severe anterior chest or back pain. The symptom must be differentiated from other common intrathoracic distress diseases. Clinical, cytologic and radiologic examinatio ns of pleural effusion, and moreover, measurement of enzymes such as amylase or insulin, which is secreted from pancreatic tissues, in pleural effusion and cystic fluid enabled us to make the diagnosis of rupture of mediastinal teratoma preoperatively.

Keyword

Mediastinal teratoma; Rupture; Pleural effusion; Anterior chest pain

MeSH Terms

Amylases
Back Pain
Diagnosis
Hemoptysis
Humans
Insulin
Pericardial Effusion
Pleural Cavity*
Pleural Effusion
Pleurisy
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Rupture
Rupture, Spontaneous*
Teratoma*
Thorax
Amylases
Insulin