Teratoma maduro de mediastino com apresentação incomum em adulta jovem: relato de caso
Teratoma maduro de mediastino com apresentação incomum em adulta jovem: relato de caso
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.82082526040311
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Palavras-chave: Teratoma de Mediastino; Teratoma Maduro; Derrame Pleural; Cirurgia Torácica; Diagnóstico Diferencial; Pleuroscopia.
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Keywords: Mediastinal Teratoma; Mature Teratoma; Pleural Effusion; Thoracic Surgery; Differential Diagnosis; Pleuroscopy.
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Abstract: Mature Mediastinal Teratoma with Uncommon Presentation in a Young Adult: A Case Report Objective To report a case of mature anterior mediastinal teratoma presenting with atypical features associated with pleural effusion, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and the clinical significance of invasive investigation for appropriate surgical indication. Methodology This is a clinical case report based on a retrospective review of clinical, radiological, surgical, and histopathological data of a patient treated at a tertiary thoracic surgery center. Information was obtained through medical record analysis and complementary diagnostic reports. The diagnosis was established via imaging exams and confirmed by pleuroscopy with pleural biopsy. Treatment consisted of complete surgical resection of the mediastinal mass, followed by postoperative monitoring and periodic outpatient follow-up, including control computed tomography (CT) scans. The report adhered to ethical principles, ensuring anonymity and informed consent for publication. Introduction Mediastinal teratoma is a rare germ cell tumor of the anterior mediastinum. While generally benign, it possesses malignant potential in its immature forms. Diagnosis is primarily radiological, supplemented by tumor markers, and the definitive treatment is surgical, offering an excellent prognosis in benign cases. Case Summary V.A.O., a 21-year-old female from Novo Oriente–CE, previously healthy and with no known comorbidities, presented with insidious left-sided chest pain. The pain was described as a dull ache and sharp sensation of moderate intensity, worsening upon deep inspiration and radiating to the ipsilateral shoulder and scapula, thereby limiting daily activities. The patient reported partial symptomatic relief with common analgesics. After approximately one month of progression, she developed significant orthopnea associated with evening and nocturnal fever. She denied weight loss, anorexia, or other constitutional symptoms. During the initial diagnostic workup, imaging revealed a mass in the anterior mediastinum measuring approximately 6 cm, located in the medial portion of the left upper lobe, in close contact with the pericardium, with features suggestive of neoplasia. Additionally, a moderate left-sided pleural effusion was observed, without evidence of significant compression of adjacent structures. Due to the initial suspicion of malignancy—primarily triggered by the association with pleural effusion—immediate surgical treatment was contraindicated at another facility. The patient was subsequently referred to this institution's thoracic surgery service approximately nine months after symptom onset. A diagnostic pleuroscopy with left pleural biopsy was performed on August 2, 2023. The histopathological examination revealed findings consistent with a mature teratoma. With the diagnosis established, definitive surgical treatment was indicated. On September 6, 2023, the patient underwent a left thoracotomy with complete resection of the mediastinal mass. During the procedure, a partial pericardiectomy was required due to dense inflammatory adhesions between the tumor and the pericardium; however, pericardial reconstruction was not necessary. Thoracic drainage was performed at the end of the procedure. The surgery was uneventful, achieving clear surgical margins. The postoperative course was satisfactory; the patient remained in the intensive care unit for 24 hours and was discharged on the third postoperative day following chest tube removal. The patient remains asymptomatic with preserved functional capacity. She has been in outpatient follow-up for two years, with serial CT scans showing no evidence of tumor recurrence or return of the pleural effusion. Discussion Approximately two-thirds of mediastinal lesions are benign. These are distributed such that 50% occur in the anterior compartment, while the middle and posterior regions account for the remaining half. Among benign masses specifically located in the anterior mediastinum, thymic cysts are the most frequent pathology (1). Within this same topography, primary mediastinal germ cell tumors are also observed, with a histological classification analogous to those found in the gonads. Among these, mature teratomas are prominent, characterized by being composed entirely of mature somatic tissues (2). Although these neoplasms are commonly asymptomatic, rare secondary involvement of the lung parenchyma and pleura alters the clinical profile, resulting in manifestations such as dyspnea, persistent cough, and chest pain (2,3,4). In the presented case, the pleural effusion acted as a significant diagnostic confounder. This underscores the importance of pleuroscopy in correctly classifying the effusion and excluding malignant etiologies through fluid analysis and pleural histopathology. Conclusion Mature teratoma of the anterior mediastinum is a rare neoplasm, generally exhibiting benign behavior and an excellent prognosis following complete surgical resection. However, atypical presentations, such as association with pleural effusion, can lead to diagnostic confusion and may erroneously delay or contraindicate definitive treatment. This case illustrates the necessity of a thorough diagnostic investigation, highlighting the role of pleuroscopy as a fundamental tool in evaluating pleural effusion and excluding malignancy. Histopathological confirmation enabled proper surgical planning, resulting in complete lesion resection, a favorable postoperative course, and long-term recurrence-free survival. Thus, it is reinforced that pleural effusion, although uncommon, does not exclude the diagnosis of benign mediastinal teratoma and should not, in isolation, contraindicate surgical intervention.
- Bruno Wesley Nobre Fernandes
- Luiz Paulino Gomes Neto
- Davi Castro Freire
- Francisco Duque de Paiva Giudice Junior
- Newton de Albuquerque Alves