title: Giant mature teratoma in the mediastinum presenting with rapid growth.
abstract: Teratomas are primary germ-cell tumours in the mediastinum. Although they are generally slow-growing and asymptomatic, rapid growth causing life-threatening complications can occur. Sebaceous secretion, insulin production, chorionic gonadotropin secretion and pancreatic enzyme secretion are the presumptive causes of tumour progression. Only few cases of rapidly growing teratomas have been reported previously. Here, we present a case of a giant mature teratoma in the mediastinum that presented with rapid growth and compare the characteristics of this case with those of previous cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine , National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center , Kyoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery , National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center , Kyoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery , National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center , Kyoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motoishi
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery , National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center , Kyoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pathology , National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center , Kyoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine , National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center , Kyoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mio