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CASE REPORT
Yolk sac tumour in the anterior mediastinum
1
Trainee pneumonologist,University Clinic of Pneumonology, Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, “G. Papanikolaou”
General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
2
Lecturer in pneumonology, University Clinic of Pneumonology, Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, “G. Papanikolaou”
General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
3
Professor in pneumonology,
University Clinic of Pneumonology, Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, “G. Papanikolaou”
General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
Corresponding author
Konstantinos Porpodis
University Clinic of Pneumonology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Exochi, Thessaloniki, Greece
University Clinic of Pneumonology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Exochi, Thessaloniki, Greece
Pneumon 2013;26(4):361-365
KEYWORDS
coughanterior mediastinumyolk sac tumourbeta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG)alpha 1 fetoprotein (AFP)
ABSTRACT
The case is presented of a patient who was hospitalized for the investigation of an anterior mediastinal mass, which proved to be a yolk sac tumour. The patient was a 33 year-old male non smoker who presented at the emergency respiratory department with a one month history of persistent dry cough with no relevant past medical history. Clinical examination revealed non specific chest sounds, restriction on spirometric testing, anaemia, an abnormal blood of albumin/globulin ratio and a high serum level of LDH. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed marked widening of the anterior mediastinum with a lobed edge to the right cardiac margin, right sided pleural effusion and nodular opacities in the left upper and lower lung fields. The blood level of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) was zero, while the level of alpha 1 fetoprotein (AFP) was extremely high. The histological examination revealed a germ cell neoplasm with the characteristics of a yolk sac tumour.
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| eISSN: | 1791-4914 |
| ISSN: | 1105-848X |
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