Growing Teratoma Syndrome

Abstract

Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is a rare clinical entity, which presents with enlarging teratomas masses of the retroperitoneum or other locations, occurring during or after systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of nonseminomatous germ cell of the testis (NSGCT), with normalised tumour markers. Awareness of this syndrome is necessary in order to prevent unnecessary chemotherapy and allow optimal management. Prognosis is excellent after the excision of these tumors, but surgery has to be as complete as possible. Surgical resection of bulky GTS lesions is technically challenging; intraoperative complications may occur; that is, why the treatment must not be delayed. Our experience in the surgical management of these lesions is reviewed in the following work.

Radiological‐pathological correlation of malignant teratoma with liposarcomatous transformation: Proven by repeated transthoracic needle biopsy

“…Because TTNB cannot represent the entire tumor, we could not ensure that the liposarcomatous component was emerging rather than inherent, which is one of our limitations. However, TMT is more likely to be the correct diagnosis in this case rather than teratocarcinoma or growing teratoma syndrome, which refers to an enlarging metastatic mature teratoma during or after chemotherapy for the treatment of non‐seminomatous GCT . The development of a somatic (or non‐germ cell) malignant component is rare, but has been previously reported .…”

Growing Teratoma Syndrome: A Rare Outcome

“…According to Logothetis, the diagnostic criteria of GTS were (a) normalization of elevated serum AFP and hCG, (b) tumor growth during or after systemic chemotherapy, subsequently to a significant reduction in tumor burden or a disease-free interval, and (c) the exclusive histologicallypresence of mature teratoma in the resected specimen [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…GTS is now considered a condition related to both testicular and ovarian cancer (NSGCT), with a prevalence of about 1.9–7.6% in patients with testicular NSGCT [ 1 , 7 ].…”

How Common Is the Growing Teratoma Syndrome in Patients With Ovarian Immature Teratoma?

“…It is more common in males, with an incidence reported from 1.9% to 7.6% of patients treated for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis. 9 It is uncommon after IT of the ovary. 10 experience of a total of 117 second-look laparotomies in patients with ovarian germ cell tumors who had received postoperative platinum-based chemotherapy.…”