Anterior mediastinal teratoma in a child presenting as trauma

Abstract

SummaryAn eight‐year‐old girl presented to the Emergency Department with chest pain and dyspnoea following a low impact chest injury. A large haemothorax secondary to trauma was initially suspected on the basis of a chest radiograph and ultrasound scan; insertion of a chest drain was considered but not performed. The child remained stable and was transferred to the local trauma unit, where a CT scan revealed an anterior mediastinal mature cystic teratoma. She went on to have a successful resection of the tumour and an uneventful recovery. This case highlights the requirement for a high index of suspicion in circumstances where mechanism of injury and pathology are not congruous. Effective communication within trauma networks is vital for the management of paediatric trauma presenting to district general hospitals.