Intracardiac metastases from malignant teratoma of the testis

Cisplatin-based chemotherapeutic regimens are highly successful at controlling testicular teratomas, returning tumor markers to normal in 76% of patients. However, bulky residual disease persists in 24%, and surgical excision of these deposits is becoming increasingly common. This approach is justified, because the histologic characteristics of such deposits gives valuable prognostic information, allowing a decision to be made regarding additional therapy, and relapse of apparently stable disease may occur. Excision of residual bulky disease may be achieved safely. We have recently successfully excised an intracardiac metastasis in a patient with no demonstrable extrathoracic disease and normal serum marker levels.