Pleural Effusion: A Rare Presentation of Mature Teratoma in a Young Patient

Mediastinal masses always present a diagnostic challenge to clinicians and radiologists. There are wide varieties of pathologies ranging from benign to malignant conditions. Teratomas are one of the rare causes of mediastinal tumors. In this case, we report a young male who presented to the emergency room with acute pleuritic chest pain. The chest X-ray showed massive right-sided pleural effusion. Subsequently, bedside chest ultrasound ruled out septations and helped drain the fluid. The pleural fluid analysis demonstrated transudate chemistry. A computerized tomography (CT) of the chest was performed, revealing a complex anterior mediastinal mass suspected of Mature Teratoma. The tumor was surgically removed in its entirety, and pathology confirmed it a mature teratoma. The patient remained asymptomatic on postoperative follow-up.