Primary malignant Germ-Cell tumors of the anterior mediastinum in adults. Report of two rare cases and review of the literature

Abstract

The posterior mediastinum presents a tendency to develop metastatic tumours especially gonadic ones, because of the lymphatic drainage of the testes and the thoracic aorta in the posterior mediastinal, whereas anterior mediastinal space characterized by tumour growth of primary aetiology.1 The regions of the rare presence of primary seminoma is the pineal body, the mediastinum and the retroperitoneum. The mediastinal region is the most common site of seminoma. The latter is in the anterior mediastinum, involves predominantly young males and corresponds to 25-30% of malignant mediastinal germ cell tumours.2–6 The thymus gland is often the primary hosts of mediastinal seminoma.7,8 Even if there are supporters of thymic genetic origin of the primary seminoma, the latest theory professes ectopic seminoma of a tumour originating in the gonads.9