title: [Mediastinal mature teratoma with spontaneous malignant transformation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant teratomas can be either immature teratomas or they can develop after treatment of other malignant germ cell tumors with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Spontaneous malignant transformation of mature teratomas is very rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a patient complaining of atypical chest pain. Chest plain radiography showed a right anterior mediastinal mass. Computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous mediastinal mass with fat areas and calcification. There were hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes as well as lung parenchymal nodules. CT-guided and then surgical biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of a mature teratoma, which had degenerated into a digestive adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spontaneous malignant transformation of mature mediastinal teratoma is very rare. The diagnosis of malignant transformation is based on radiological examinations, laboratory tests and histological studies.
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie médicale, CHU Habib-Bourguiba, avenue Majida-Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neji
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddar
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ayadi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Msaad
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ben Mahfoudh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mnif
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*