[The growing teratoma syndrome report of a case]

A 26-year-old man presented with a swelling of the right scrotal content, lumbago and exertional dyspnea. He underwent high inguinal orchiectomy. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed yolk sac tumor and mature teratoma. Further evaluation revealed mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymph node metastases (stage IIIA). A single course of BEP (bleomysin, etoposide and cisplatin), two courses of chemotherapy consisting of nedaplatin and irinotecan, and three courses of TIP (paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin) were delivered. The previous abnormally elevated serum biomarkers (AFP, beta-hCG and LDH) returned to normal levels, but the mediastinal and retroperitoneal masses continued to enlarge slowly. The CT-guided biopsy of the mediastinal mass was performed, and histologic study revealed no evidence of malignancy. He underwent excision of the mediastinal masses and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Histologic examination of the resected specimens revealed mature teratoma without malignant components. These results were compatible with growing teratoma syndrome. 30 months after the first excision of mediastinal mass, he underwent the second excision of recurrent mediastinal mass in the absence of biomarker elevation. The resected specimens revealed mature teratoma without malignant components. He is alive for 49 months after high inguinal orchiectomy and free of carcinoma.