[A case of immature mediastinal teratoma]

A case of mediastinal immature teratoma was treated with a multimodality approach that included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Serum alpha-fetoprotein at admission was elevated and changed in parallel with the therapy and tumor growth. The patient died of sudden respiratory failure 18 months after admission. Mediastinal immature teratoma with elevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein carries a poor prognosis, as does endodermal sinus tumor. We concluded that this condition should most probably be treated with a combination of intensive chemotherapy, surgical resection, and radiotherapy.