Heart Attack or Tumor? A Case Report of Incidental Mediastinal Mass

Author(s): Goonja Patel, Scott Lee, Ogenetega Madedor, Yingxian Liu

Teratoma is a germ cell tumor composed of three embryonic layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm). We present a case of a 21-year male who presented with right-sided chest pain, chills, and diaphoresis. An incidental mass was seen on chest x-ray, followed by a computed tomography (CT) scan which demonstrated a mass in the right hilum with solid and cystic components. After surgical resection, microscopic evaluation of the mass revealed several sebaceous glands, hair follicles, adipose cells, respiratory mucosa, and bronchial cartilage, besides thymic tissue. A diagnosis of mediastinal mature teratoma was made and the patient had a good recovery following surgical resection.