[Mediastinal germ cell tumors: anatomopathology, classification, teratomas and malignant tumors]
Fiche publication
Date publication
février 2010
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Pr FALCOZ Pierre-Emmanuel
Tous les auteurs :
Chetaille B, Massard G, Falcoz PE
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
Mediastinal germ cell tumors are rare tumors. It is classic to divide those tumors into two categories, seminomas and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: teratomas (mature or immature), embryonal carcinomas, yolk sac tumors, and choriocarcinomas. Each histological sub-type can be associated to another sub-type that realise a so-called mixed germ cell tumor. Diagnosis strategy is currently well codified for malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors. It greatly benefits from tumoral markers (alpha-fetoprotein and beta human chorionic gonadotrophin). For instance, the treatment strategy still raises some specific problems to each histological type. The treatment of seminomatous tumors is standardised--chemotherapy/surgery on residual tumor greater than 3 cm/radiotherapy on viable persistent residual tumors--and provides very satisfying results. As for the nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, the situation is dramatically different. The treatment strategy is less standardised--association of chemotherapy and surgery--and the prognosis is very severe.
Référence
Rev Pneumol Clin. 2010 Feb;66(1):63-70