[Mediastinal teratoma with recurrent encysted pleural effusion].
A 25 year old man with no previous history was admitted for a recurrent right sided encysted pleural effusion. Thoracocentesis revealed an exudative lipase-rich-fluid. Because of the persistence of abundant pleural fluid after several thoracocentesis a diagnostic mediastinotomy was performed. This revealed a necrotic cystic mediastinal tumor composed of well differentiated pancreatic tissue, nervous tissue, digestive and respiratory glands, and a dermoid mass with hair and sebacious glands. This led to a diagnosis of benign, mature mediastinal teratoma. We suggest that the chronic pleural effusion was maintained by a fistula from the tumour into the pleural cavity and the secretion of proteolytic enzymes by the well-differentiated pancreatic tissue.
Beduneau
G
G
Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital de Bois-Guillaume, Rouen, France.
Cuvelier
A
A
Héliot
Ph
P
Métayer
J
J
Muir
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D003560:Cysts; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications*