Introduction

Mediastinal tumors comprise 4% percent of all germ cell tumors and 6% to 20% of all mediastinal masses seen in children [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Germ cell tumors (GCT) are secondary in incidence in the mediastinum to neurogenic tumors and lymphomas[8].

Age and gender play an important role in the behavior of mediastinal germ cell tumors. These tumors have been reported from newborns to adulthood. However, mediastinal germ cell tumors are most common in adolescents [3][9][10]. In childhood, these tumors are often benign. Conversely, in adolescence they often display aggressive behavior or contain malignant elements [11]. In infancy and childhood, the incidence of malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT) is slightly higher for female patients, whereas the incidence of MGCT is slightly higher for male patients in adolescence [12]. The overall malignancy rate is approximately 14% in children and the chance of malignancy is higher in males than females [8][13]. A large review of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database reported that mixed GCT were the most common (34%), followed by yolk sac (23%), malignant teratoma (22%), choriocarcinoma (14%), and embryonal carcinoma (8%), which was less common in children than adults [14].

see also Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors

content in this topic is referenced in SCORE Teratoma overview