Mediastinal Teratoma In A Newborn Presenting With Respiratory Distress And Superior Mediastinal Syndrome: A Case Report -

Background: Medistinal teratomas compose 20% of childhood mediastinal tumors, 10% of all teratomas and it is an uncommon cause of respiratory distress in neonatal period. Method: We report a newborn with mediastinal teratoma presenting with respiratory distress and superior mediastinal syndrome. The 6x 4x 2,5 cm mass adjacent to the right upper lung was totally resected. Results: Histopathologically Grade 2 immature teratoma with an intact looking capsule, and components of immature cartilage, mesenchymal and neuroepithelial tissue was identified Chemotherapy was not administered. At the 6th month of her follow up, the AFP level was 18 ng/ml in concordance with her age. No recurrence was observed. Conclusions: Most of benign mediastinal teratomas grow slowly and do not manifest symptoms until early puberty. Chest X-ray, thorax ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful in identifying the localization and association of mass with peripheral tissues. Treatment of the mediastinal teratomas in children under the age of fifteen is total surgical excision.