title: [Extragonadal germ-cell tumors located in the mediastinum].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extragonadal germ-cell tumors (EGGCT) represent 5% of all germ-cell tumors at presentation. Histologically, they are identical to testis germ cell tumors. They may arise in such sites as the mediastinum, retroperitoneal area, sacrococcygeal area, or pineal area without a primary in the testis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 10 patients with mediastinal EGGCT were reviewed between 1973 and 1996. All patients were males and his mean age was 26.7 years old (21-24). Follow-up was 19 months (3-72).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first symptoms are diverse. The histology results nonseminomatous tumor at 9 patients and seminomatous tumor at the restant. All of the scrotal examination was normal and only five patients presented increased tumoral markers (alpha-FP in 4 and beta-HCG in 1). Previous at 1990 didn't exist a standard treatment, resulting the four patients treated in this period exitus. After 1990 the treatment was cisplatin-based chemotherapy: BEP (bleomicyn, etoposide-VP-16- and cisplatin-CDDP) then we obtained the best results, a patient died after 6 months but the restants five are alive and without evidence of disease during a follow-up between 3 and 72 months.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital de la Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sotelo Burillo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez Cuenca
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lorente Garín
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morote Robles
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellmunt Molins
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Torres Mateos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant