title: Conservative surgical treatment for a giant thoracoabdominal benign teratoma.
abstract: The authors describe an adult patient with a giant, cystic teratoma (33 x 22 x 18 cm) involving the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum. A conservative surgical approach consisting of a partial endocystectomy plus injections of tetracycline into the residual cavity, was performed. Two months after surgery, a CT scan showed a 6 x 5 x 3 cm residual cyst. The authors believe that the excision of the inner surface of the cystic lesion and the intracystic administration of tetracycline, may successfully prevent the accumulation of fluid which is the main cause of the progressive enlargement of such benign cystic teratomas.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of General Surgery, University La Sapienza, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panzironi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biancari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Antoni
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed