[Diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal teratomas]

Among 221 operated patients with primary tumors and cysts of the mediastinum teratomas were observed in 54 (24.4%). The diagnosis of mediastinal teratodermoids should be complex. Clinically in benign teratomas the localization and character of the process were determined precisely in 94%, histogenesis--in 35%, in malignant teratomas--the proper localization was determined in 90%, the tumor character--in 78%, histogenesis--in 26%. For malignant tumors the combination therapy with intensive telegamma therapy prior to and after surgery was employed. Resectability in malignant teratomas made 73%, the postoperative mortality--in 5.5%. A five-year survival following radical surgery in patients with malignant teratoma was 37%. In inoperable teratoblastomas it seems rational to use intensive split course telegamma therapy with a total focal dosage of 5,500-6,500 rad.