Mediastinal Nonseminoma

Book
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan.
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Excerpt

Germ cell tumors are cancers that arise from the reproductive cells of the testis or ovaries. Sometimes, the germ cells may arise in the mediastinum, chiefly in young males. Of these, nearly 70% are non-seminomas and the rest are seminomas. Non-seminomas include the following:

  1. Embryonal carcinomas

  2. Yolk sac tumors

  3. Teratomas

  4. Choriocarcinomas

The only well-known risk factor for extragonadal germ cell tumors is Klinefelter syndrome. In the majority of patients with extragonadal tumors, there is no evidence of a primary malignancy in the scrotum. In most patients, the mediastinal non-seminomas do not produce symptoms until they get large and occupy space.

Publication types

  • Study Guide