Thymic enlargement following treatment for a metastatic germ cell tumor: a case report.
We describe a patient with metastatic testicular carcinoma in whom an anterior mediastinal mass developed 8 months after complete remission following chemotherapy and surgery. The mass was excised and pathological examination showed benign thymic hyperplasia. An anterior mediastinal mass encountered after successful chemotherapy does not always imply recurrence or relapse of malignant disease. The possibility of a benign etiology must be considered to prevent inappropriate treatment.
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013952:Thymus Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology