Slow-Growing Mature Mediastinal Teratoma: Case Report

This report describes the case of a 39-year-old man with a mediastinal teratoma. For seven years the patient had been suffering a dyspnea on exertion. In the last few weeks, the dyspnea increased and new symptoms appeared such as dry cough, chest pain and palpitations. Computed tomography revealed a medium-sized tumor that was markedly compressing the superior vena cava and the right atrium. Surgery was performed, and a benign mature teratoma was diagnosed. Mature mediastinal teratomas are benign tumors, but they can be adherent to collateral structures in the chest leading to life threatening complications.