title: [Mediastinal germ cell tumors: anatomopathology, classification, teratomas and malignant tumors].
abstract: Mediastinal germ cell tumors are rare tumors. It is classic to divide those tumors into two categories, seminomas and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: teratomas (mature or immature), embryonal carcinomas, yolk sac tumors, and choriocarcinomas. Each histological sub-type can be associated to another sub-type that realise a so-called mixed germ cell tumor. Diagnosis strategy is currently well codified for malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors. It greatly benefits from tumoral markers (alpha-fetoprotein and beta human chorionic gonadotrophin). For instance, the treatment strategy still raises some specific problems to each histological type. The treatment of seminomatous tumors is standardised--chemotherapy/surgery on residual tumor greater than 3 cm/radiotherapy on viable persistent residual tumors--and provides very satisfying results. As for the nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, the situation is dramatically different. The treatment strategy is less standardised--association of chemotherapy and surgery--and the prognosis is very severe.
authors.affiliation: Département de Biopathologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, 232 Boulevard Sainte- Marguerite, BP 156, 13272 Marseille cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chetaille
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massard
authors.forename: P-E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Falcoz
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018239:Seminoma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013724:Teratoma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor