Can pancreatic tissue cause haemoptysis?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology
• Surgery

Background:

• Mature teratomas are germ cell tumors often located in the mediastinum.
• Mediastinal masses can present with diverse and sometimes unusual symptoms.

Observation:

• A young man presented with hemoptysis as the sole symptom of a mediastinal tumor.
• Histopathological examination revealed a mature teratoma containing pancreatic elements.

Findings:

• Pancreatic acinar cells within the teratoma showed the presence of trypsin.
• Proteolytic activity from trypsin was identified as the cause of hemoptysis via enzymatic erosion of adjacent lung tissue.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare cause of hemoptysis due to a mediastinal mature teratoma with ectopic pancreatic tissue.
• Surgical resection is crucial for patient survival in such cases.
• Understanding the enzymatic activity of teratomas is important for diagnosis and treatment.