TITLE:
Mature Teratoma Revealed by an Encysted Pleural Effusion
AUTHORS:
Houda Gharsalli, Monia Attia, Sarra Zairi, Imen Sahnoun, Aida Ayadi, Henda Neji, Sonia Maalej, Leila Douik ElGharbi
KEYWORDS:
Tumor of the Mediastinum, Mature Teratoma, Pleural Effusion
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases,
Vol.11 No.2,
May
28,
2021
ABSTRACT: A 32-year-old patient with no previous history was admitted for chest
pain, dyspnea, appetite and weight loss. Chest X-ray revealed an opacity involving the lower two-thirds of the right hemithorax, suggestive
of a pleural effusion. Because of the
absence of fluid return even after ultrasound-guided thoracentesis, a Chest Computed tomography
was required showing a heterogeneous anterior mediastinal mass with soft
tissue, fat, fluid and calcifications associated with extensive encysted fluid collection in the right hemithorax. A video-assisted mini-thoracotomy revealed a mediastinal tumor firmly attached to
the thymus with a cystic wall lined by
squamous epithelium and sebaceous gland composed of respiratory tissue,
adipose tissue, cartilage, smooth muscle fibers, and well-differentiated
pancreatic tissue. These findings led to the diagnosis of a mature thymic
teratoma. The patient was discharged 7 days after surgery,
with no recurrence on follow-up.