Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3419988 | Revue de Pneumologie Clinique | 2010 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
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 β 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.
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Authors
B. Chetaille, G. Massard, P.-E. Falcoz,