Different transformation of mature teratoma in a patient with mixed germ cell tumor of the testis

Abstract

A 44-year-old male was referred with a left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. A biopsy of the lymph node showed metastatic embryonal carcinoma. Tumor markers were present at high levels: alpha-fetoprotein 253.9 ng/mL, beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin 62 ng/mL. Computed tomography (CT) showed retroperitoneal adenopathy. High orchiectomy was done. The patient was treated with three cycles of etoposide plus cisplatin, achieved normalization of the serum tumor markers and underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Pathological findings of multiple lymph nodes showed teratomatous glands without viable cells. At follow-ups performed every 3 months, tumor markers remained within normal limits and no evidence of recurrence was observed. Eight years after first admission a CT scan revealed a cystic tumor 1 cm in diameter in the para-aortic region. The cystic tumor continued to slowly grow, expanding by 1 cm in diameter per year without elevation of tumor markers. The para-aortic tumor had grown to 4 cm in diameter and a left supraclavicular lymphadennopathy recurred. A resection of the supraclavicular cystic tumor showed mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, but a cystic tumor in the para-aortic region revealed mature teratoma. Here we report a case of mature teratoma with metastases at supraclavicular and para-aortic lymph nodes which had different transformations in spite of both regions consisting of cystic tumors.