Mediastinal mature teratoma causing cardiac tamponade—A pediatric case report

Abstract

We report the case of an 8-year-old girl with a mediastinal mature teratoma causing cardiac tamponade, who showed shoulder pain and hemosputum. She was transferred to our hospital and diagnosed as having mediastinal mature teratoma by computed tomography (CT). Her tumor marker levels were within the normal ranges. Tumor extirpation was planned, but general fatigue and fever elevation were recognized on admission. Tumor enlargement and pericardial effusion were detected by enhanced CT. Pericardial drainage was performed for cardiac tamponade induced by progressive pericardial effusion. Bloody fluid was recognized and the patient showed severe anemia requiring blood transfusion. Emergent tumor extirpation was performed through left thoracotomy. The histopathological findings showed a benign mature teratoma. The postoperative course was uneventful and her pericardial effusion gradually decreased after surgery. Mediastinal mature teratoma sometimes causes serious complications affecting surrounding organs due to tumor rupture. Careful follow-up is required for patients with mediastinal mature teratoma.