[Mediastinal teratomas--diagnosis and therapy].

The authors present an account on patients with a teratoma of the mediastinum who were operated at the Second Surgical Clinic, L. Pasteur Faculty Hospital in Kosice. In the course of 10 years (Jan. 1, 1990-Dec. 31 1999) 73 patients with tumours of the mediastinum were operated. In four the diagnosis of teratoma of the mediastinum was confirmed by histological examination (5.47%): three adult patients and one child. In two patients the tumour of the mediastinum was diagnosed accidentally during X-ray examination of the chest. In one female patient surgical revision was indicated on account of a relapse of the process. In the conclusion the authors emphasize that teratomas of the mediastinum are frequently asymptomatic, and in case the process is in the anterior or upper mediastinum, teratomas must be taken into account and removed as a whole during surgical intervention.