Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
[Mediastinal mature teratoma with spontaneous malignant transformation]
1Service d'imagerie médicale, CHU Habib-Bourguiba, avenue Majida-Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
Introduction:
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.
Observation:
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.
Conclusion:
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.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
02:07Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...