26例原发性纵隔恶性生殖细胞瘤的诊治

目的:探讨原发性纵隔恶性生殖细胞瘤的诊治及外科手术的作用.方法:对26例收治的原发性纵隔恶性生殖细胞瘤的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果:22例手术治疗患者中,11例根治性切除,10例姑息性切除,1例探查,手术并发症发生率及死亡率分别为18.2%和9.1%,其中12例术后给予以顺铂为主的联合化疗,4例予以放疗.手术治疗患者术后病理为无性生殖细胞瘤12例,精原细胞瘤5例,未成熟畸胎瘤5例.3例未成熟畸胎瘤及1例胚胎癌患者明确诊断后未手术而给予放疗或放、化疗.本组26例患者中仅2例精原细胞瘤生存满5年,17例已证实死亡,除2例手术死亡外均死于肿瘤复发转移.结论:原发性纵隔恶性生殖细胞瘤的治疗应强调以化疗为主的综合治疗,外科切除只宜做为阶段性的辅助手段,手术时机把握应以具体患者情况而定.     

44例儿童青少年恶性生殖细胞肿瘤综合治疗结果分析

背景与目的:目前儿童青少年恶性生殖细胞瘤采用综合治疗,总生存率已达75%以上,然而,不同分期、病理类型和发病部位的患者有不同的预后。本文分析儿童青少年恶性生殖细胞瘤的临床特点、综合治疗的效果和影响预后的因素,并探讨其治疗策略。方法:对1997年1月～2005年12月中山大学肿瘤防治中心收治的儿童青少年恶性生殖系统肿瘤患者的临床表现、综合治疗疗效和不良预后因素进行分析;采用Kaplan-Meier法计算全组生存率。结果:44例患者中,25例行术后辅助化疗;1例单纯手术;18例行诱导化疗,其中7例患者化疗后肿瘤缩小行手术切除,2例原发纵隔绒癌伴多发转移患者化疗后行残留病灶放疗,1例术后腹腔转移和1例术后肺转移患者化疗后获得完全缓解,1例原发纵隔内胚窦瘤化疗后部分缓解,未做进一步治疗,6例患者化疗无效进展死亡。化疗的患者均采用含铂类化疗方案治疗2～7个疗程。中位随访时间32个月,全组3年总生存率为84.8%;Ⅰ Ⅱ期患者3年生存率为100%,Ⅲ期为83.3%,Ⅳ期为65.6%,复发患者为66.7%;初治生殖器内(睾丸和卵巢)肿瘤患者3年生存率为96.0%,生殖器以外肿瘤患者为61.0%。结论:手术联合含铂类药物化疗能明显改善儿童青少年生殖细胞瘤的疗效和生存率,但对Ⅳ期、复发转移和生殖器以外的生殖细胞瘤患者应探讨新的方案和增加剂量强度。     

14例巨大纵隔肿瘤的外科治疗

目的:探讨巨大纵隔肿瘤的诊断、治疗方法及其疗效.方法:分析手术治疗14例巨大纵隔肿瘤的临床资料.结果:14例中完整切除9例,部分切除5例.1例术后出现急性肺水肿,2例术后出现呼吸衰竭,均治愈,无围手术期死亡.术后随访半年至8年,良性肿瘤术后疗效好,恶性者术后主要死于复发及远处转移.结论:选择合适的麻醉和手术方式治疗巨大纵隔肿瘤效果肯定,术中可选择分块或整块切除,防止避免大出血和复张性肺水肿.恶性者术后辅助化疗和(或)放疗以减少复发.     

电视胸腔镜在胸部肿瘤中的应用

电视胸腔镜外科（ＶＡＴＳ）在胸部肿瘤的临床应用尚存争议。自１９９６年１０月～１９９７年８月，我科共行胸腔镜手术１６例：肺癌切除２例，纵隔肿瘤切除３例，恶性胸水行胸膜固定术２例，恶性心包积液行心包开窗术４例，常规开胸术前诊断性探查５例，初期结果较为满意。结论：ＶＡＴＳ创伤较小，安全有效。可选择性地用于胸部良恶性肿瘤的诊断和治疗。     

胸壁、纵隔

电视辅助胸腔镜在胸部肿瘤外科的应用；电视纵隔镜应用于纵隔疑难疾病诊断和肺癌分期；化学性胸膜固定来治疗恶性胸腔积液30例临床分析；OK-432联合化疗治疗癌性胸腔积液42例临床研究；纵隔生殖细胞瘤临床分析。     

纵隔神经源性肿瘤的诊断与围手术期处理

目的　探讨纵隔神经源性肿瘤的诊断方法和外科治疗原则。方法　对手术治疗、经病理证实的41例纵隔神经源性肿瘤患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果　良性 33例 ( 81% )、恶性 8例 ( 19% ) ,神经鞘瘤 30例、神经纤维瘤 6例、神经节细胞瘤 5例 ;完整切除 36例、部分切除 4例、放弃手术 1例 ,全组无死亡。结论　纵隔神经源性肿瘤好发于后纵隔 ,多为良性 ;胸部X线检查 (胸片、CT)为术前主要诊断方法 ,术后辅助治疗取决于病理检查结果。手术为治疗首选 ,良性瘤和部分恶性瘤一般可获完整切除 ;做好围手术期处理 ,充分考虑到术中的特殊情况 ,防止相邻重要器官损伤 ,是保证手术安全的关键。     

星形细胞瘤的个体化治疗:显微手术、放疗、化疗及其疗效

背景与目的:星形细胞瘤是神经系统最常见的难治性肿瘤,约占神经上皮肿瘤的75%,具有发生率高、残废率高、复发率高和治愈率低的特点.对星形细胞瘤规范的个体化综合治疗是提高其疗效的希望和努力方向.本研究对62例星形细胞瘤患者行个体化显微手术治疗,术后依据肿瘤特点和病理级别行个体化辅助放/化疗,以探讨个体化综合治疗星形细胞瘤的效果.方法:研究组62例星形细胞瘤患者采用个体化治疗方案:(1)个体化显微手术;(2)个体化放疗;(3)个体化化疗(参考药敏实验).对照组50例星形细胞瘤患者治疗模式为:常规手术+局部外放疗+BCNU化疗.研究组62例患者术后病理学诊断为星形细胞瘤Ⅱ级19例、Ⅲ级32例、Ⅳ级11例;接受局部外放疗59例、接受化疗46例.对照组50例患者术后病理学诊断为星形细胞瘤Ⅱ级13例、Ⅲ级28例、Ⅳ级9例;接受BCNU化疗+局部外放疗的31例、接受局部外放疗+BCNU化疗的19例.平均随访25.8月,以影像学结果、KPS评分和生存率判定两组患者的疗效.结果:研究组肿瘤全切率为67.7%,对照组肿瘤全切率为58.0%;采用两种治疗模式治疗后低级别星形细胞瘤患者的KPS评分和生存率无显著差异;高级别星形细胞瘤采用个体化治疗模式显著改善了患者的生存,2年预期生存率研究组Ⅲ级为93.7%,Ⅳ级为36.3%;对照组Ⅲ级为67.5%,Ⅳ级为22.2%;研究组高级别星形细胞瘤的生存率显著高于对照组(P＜0.05).特别是Ⅳ级星形细胞瘤,研究组中位生存时间18.7个月,对照组中位生存时间12.8个月,两组有显著性差异(P＜0.01).结论:个体化显微手术可提高星形细胞瘤的全切除率,为手术后辅助治疗创造有利条件;个体化放/化疗可增加治疗的针对性,避免无效或有害的辅助治疗;个体化治疗方案可提高星形细胞瘤、特别是恶性星形细胞瘤的治疗效果.     

儿童肺部原发性肿瘤56例临床分析

目的探讨儿童肺部原发性肿瘤的临床特征、治疗方案及预后。方法 2009—2019年间广州市妇女儿童医疗中心共收治儿童肺部原发性肿瘤患儿56例, 收集其一般资料、影像学资料、病理资料及手术记录等, 进行回顾性分析。结果 56例患儿中, 胸膜肺母细胞瘤28例, 炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤20例, 黏液表皮样癌6例, 血管瘤1例, 硬化性肺细胞瘤1例。临床表现以呼吸道症状为主, 咳嗽26例, 气促17例, 咳血3例。另外, 发热15例, 胸痛3例, 上腹部疼痛2例。肿瘤位于左肺下叶18例, 右肺下叶11例, 左肺上叶10例, 右肺上叶7例, 右肺中叶6例, 肺门4例。56例患儿均行手术治疗, 其中行开胸手术41例, 胸腔镜手术13例, 纤维支气管镜下手术2例。5例Ⅰ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤患儿术后未行化疗, 至随访结束仍存活。5例Ⅱ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤患儿中, 2例术后未化疗, 复发后死亡;3例术后化疗, 至随访结束仍存活。18例Ⅲ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤患儿术后均予IVADo方案化疗, 出现肿瘤复发6例, 远处转移3例, 肿瘤相关死亡8例。20例炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤患儿中, 行楔形切除术13例, 复发5例;行肺叶切除术6例, 复发1例;行纤维支气管镜手术1例, 术后复发。6例黏液表皮样癌患儿中, 行肺叶切除术5例, 行肺楔形切除术1例, 至随访结束均存活。1例血管瘤患儿行支气管镜下肿物切除术, 1例硬化性肺细胞瘤患儿行肺楔形切除术, 至随访结束均存活。结论儿童肺部原发性肿瘤缺乏特异性临床表现, 手术完整切除有利于取得良好预后。对于Ⅱ、Ⅲ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤, 化疗是必要的辅助治疗。     

儿童肺部原发性肿瘤56例临床分析

目的探讨儿童肺部原发性肿瘤的临床特征、治疗方案及预后。方法 2009—2019年间广州市妇女儿童医疗中心共收治儿童肺部原发性肿瘤患儿56例, 收集其一般资料、影像学资料、病理资料及手术记录等, 进行回顾性分析。结果 56例患儿中, 胸膜肺母细胞瘤28例, 炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤20例, 黏液表皮样癌6例, 血管瘤1例, 硬化性肺细胞瘤1例。临床表现以呼吸道症状为主, 咳嗽26例, 气促17例, 咳血3例。另外, 发热15例, 胸痛3例, 上腹部疼痛2例。肿瘤位于左肺下叶18例, 右肺下叶11例, 左肺上叶10例, 右肺上叶7例, 右肺中叶6例, 肺门4例。56例患儿均行手术治疗, 其中行开胸手术41例, 胸腔镜手术13例, 纤维支气管镜下手术2例。5例Ⅰ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤患儿术后未行化疗, 至随访结束仍存活。5例Ⅱ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤患儿中, 2例术后未化疗, 复发后死亡;3例术后化疗, 至随访结束仍存活。18例Ⅲ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤患儿术后均予IVADo方案化疗, 出现肿瘤复发6例, 远处转移3例, 肿瘤相关死亡8例。20例炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤患儿中, 行楔形切除术13例, 复发5例;行肺叶切除术6例, 复发1例;行纤维支气管镜手术1例, 术后复发。6例黏液表皮样癌患儿中, 行肺叶切除术5例, 行肺楔形切除术1例, 至随访结束均存活。1例血管瘤患儿行支气管镜下肿物切除术, 1例硬化性肺细胞瘤患儿行肺楔形切除术, 至随访结束均存活。结论儿童肺部原发性肿瘤缺乏特异性临床表现, 手术完整切除有利于取得良好预后。对于Ⅱ、Ⅲ型胸膜肺母细胞瘤, 化疗是必要的辅助治疗。     

典型孤立性肺结节100例病理临床分析

 目的　探讨典型的孤立性肺结节（SPN）的诊断与治疗。方法　经手术切除明确病理诊断的典型的SPN患者100例,分别搜集患者的年龄、性别、吸烟史、临床症状;影像学资料检查,肿瘤最大径有无钙化、毛刺、分叶、胸膜牵拉、界限、纵隔淋巴结肿大;术中探查与胸壁有无粘连、胸膜皱缩征等,并进行相关性分析。结果　肿瘤剔除术10例,楔形切除24例（其中5例患者高龄,心肺功能较差,行肺段切除术）,肺叶切除64例,左全肺切除1例,开胸探查1例;术后病理良性病变28例,其中结核瘤11例,炎性假瘤9例,硬化性血管瘤4例,真菌性肺炎1例,间质性肺炎1例,肺囊肿1例,动静脉瘘1例;恶性病变72例,其中腺癌34例,鳞状细胞癌21例,肺泡细胞癌10例,类癌5例,小细胞癌2例。统计学分析：患者年龄、肿瘤最大径、边界、影像学分叶、胸膜牵拉及胸膜皱缩在良恶性病变中差异有统计学意义,而患者的性别、吸烟史、临床症状在良恶性病变中的数据差异无统计学意义。结论　患者年龄、肿瘤最大径、边界、影像学分叶、胸膜牵拉及胸膜皱缩对判别典型SPN的良恶性有显著意义,采取电视胸腔镜手术（VATS）,可以作为诊断和治疗典型SPN的首要选择。     

Platinum-based chemotherapy of primary extragonadal germ cell tumours: the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group experience.

Extragonadal germ cell tumours (EGCT) are uncommon, most frequently arise in the mediastinum and retroperitoneum and have variable responses to platinum-based chemotherapy. A retrospective analysis was performed on 38 patients with EGCT treated with cisplatin-based (CDDP) or carboplatin-based (CBDCA) chemotherapy between 1984 and 1998. Twenty-four patients had nonseminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) and 14 seminoma. Twenty-two tumours arose in the mediastinum (13 nonseminomas, 9 seminomas) and 16 in the retroperitoneum (11 NSGCT, 5 seminomas). Initial surgery included complete resection in 1 patient, biopsy in 27 patients and debulking surgery in 10 patients. Complete response rates with chemotherapy +/- surgery were as follows: mediastinum 14 of 21 (66.66%) patients (8 of 12-75% NSGCT, 6 of 9-66.66% seminomas) and retroperitoneum 14 of 16 (87.5%) patients (9 of 11-81.81% NSGCT, 5 of 5-100% seminomas). One patient who underwent complete resection of a mediastinal malignant teratoma combined, received PVB chemotherapy on an adjuvant basis and remains alive and disease-free. Three additional seminoma patients who achieved partial response after chemotherapy remain alive and disease-free following mediastinal radiotherapy. All 14 patients with extragonadal seminomas remain alive with no evidence of disease at a median follow-up of 49 months (range 7-164), giving an overall survival of 100%. Nine of 13 (69.23%) patients with mediastinal NSGCT are long-term disease-free at a median follow-up of 43.5 months (range 7-152). Nine of 11 (81.81%) patients with retroperitoneal NSGCT remain alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 56 months (range 14-110). Complete surgical resection of residual mass was undertaken in 10 patients (3 seminomas, 7 nonseminomas). The histology revealed necrosis/fibrosis in 6 patients (3 seminomas, 3 NSGCT) and viable cancer in 4 patients. Patients who had viable malignant cells in the resected specimens received two more courses of VelP chemotherapy. None of our patients had relapsed at the time of this analysis. None of our 6 patients who underwent testicular biopsy (1 patient) or orchiectomy (5 patients) due to suspicious ultrasound of the testis were found to have testicular tumour or fibrotic scar. In conclusion, this retrospective analysis showed significant responses in patients with either mediastinal or retroperitoneal NSGCT treated with CDDP- or CBDCA-based chemotherapy +/- surgery. All patients with extragonadal seminomas remain alive with no evidence of disease, regardless of the site at presentation.     

Primary malignant mediastinal germ cell tumours: improved prognosis with platinum-based chemotherapy and surgery.

A retrospective analysis was performed of 18 patients with primary malignant germ cell tumours of the mediastinum treated with platinum-based chemotherapy between 1977 and 1990. All seven patients with pure seminoma were treated initially with chemotherapy and four of these patients received additional mediastinal radiotherapy. Only one patient relapsed; his initial therapy had included radiotherapy and single-agent carboplatin and he was successfully salvaged with combination chemotherapy. With a follow-up of 11 to 117 months (median 41 months) all seven patients with seminoma remain alive and disease free giving an overall survival of 100%. Eleven patients had malignant non seminoma; following chemotherapy eight of these had elective surgical resection of residual mediastinal masses. Complete remission was achieved in nine (82%) patients, however, one of these patients died from bleomycin pneumonitis. With a follow-up of 12 to 113 months (median 55 months) eight of 11 (73%) patients with malignant mediastinal teratoma remain alive and disease free.     

Management of primary malignant germ cell tumor of the mediastinum

BACKGROUND: Primary mediastinal malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare and have a worse prognosis than their gonadal counterparts. Although multimodality treatment is a standard therapeutic strategy in mediastinal GCTs, the clinical implications of surgical intervention remain unclear. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with primary mediastinal malignant GCT who were treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, from 1962 to 2002 were studied retrospectively with regard to their histology and clinical profile. RESULTS: Mediastinal GCT occurred predominantly in young males, with a mean age of 28.8 years at the time of diagnosis. There were 46 males (96%) and two females (4%). Histologically, seven patients (15%) were diagnosed as having pure seminoma and 41 (85%) had non-seminomatous GCT. Treatment consisted of surgery alone in nine patients, surgery followed by chemotherapy in two, and chemotherapy followed by surgery in 20. The other 17 patients received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy without surgery. Of these latter 17 patients, 14 developed progressive disease and three were followed up with a sustained partial response. Among the 31 patients who underwent surgery, complete resection was performed in 27 (87%) and incomplete resection was performed in four (13%). Twelve (41%) patients had elevated serum tumor marker levels preoperatively. Among the 20 patients who received preoperative chemotherapy, viable cells were found in the resected specimen in six (30%). With regard to tumor recurrence in patients with surgical intervention, the preoperative serum tumor marker levels and the presence of viable cells in the resected specimen were significantly associated with recurrence. There was no significant association between surgical curability and recurrence. The 5-year overall survival rate in all 48 patients was 45.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention for mediastinal GCT may be needed to remove a chemotherapy-refractory tumor or to assess the pathological response to chemotherapy to determine the indications for further chemotherapy.     

Primary Malignant Germ Cell Tumours of the Mediastinum: Results of Multimodality Treatment

Primary malignant mediastinal germ cell tumours are rare and considered to have poorer prognosis compared with those arising from gonads. Eighteen patients with primary mediastinal germ cell tumour were treated over an 11-year period; 9 had seminoma and 9 non-seminoma. Eight patients, 4 each with seminoma and non-seminoma underwent initial tumour excision and the rest had biopsy only. All patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy. All patients with seminoma received consolidation radiotherapy to mediastinum. Three patients with non-seminoma received radiotherapy following partial response. All 9 patients with seminoma achieved complete response at the end of chemotherapy. Two patients with NSGCT had complete response to chemotherapy, 5 partial response and 2 no response. Two patients who underwent resection of the residual tumour mass are surviving free of disease. Addition of radiotherapy or second-line chemotherapy did not bring about any added response in partial and non-responders. Nine out of 9 patients with seminoma and 4/9 with non-seminoma are surviving disease-free at a median follow-up of 48 months (range 16-153 months). Mediastinal seminoma has excellent prognosis with cisplatin combination chemotherapy, whereas non-seminoma carries poor prognosis, and aggressive chemotherapy with resection of residual masses may improve the outcome. The role of additional radiotherapy and initial tumour debulking needs further evaluation.     

Primary germ cell tumors in the mediastinum: a 50-year experience at a single Japanese institution

BACKGROUND: Primary germ cell tumors (GCT) of the mediastinum share similar clinical and biologic characteristics, which are different from their testicular counterpart. The purpose of the current study was to review the authors' institutional experience of mediastinal GCT, emphasizing the clinical spectrum, time trends of treatment, and recent advances in therapeutic modalities for malignant GCT. METHODS: Between 1951 and 2000, 129 patients (70 males and 59 females) underwent surgical treatment for GCT, which accounted for 16.0% of the mediastinal tumors during the same period. There were 95 patients with mature teratomas, 13 patients with seminomas, and 21 patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) with median ages of 26.4 years, 27.6 years, and 28.5 years, respectively. RESULTS: Adult patients with mature teratomas were less symptomatic (33.3%) than pediatric patients (52.4%). All patients with mature teratoma were cured by resection alone. Eight of the 13 patients (61.5%) with seminoma were symptomatic and 10 of 13 patients (83.3%) survived after surgery and radiation with/without chemotherapy. Nineteen of 21 patients (90.5%) with NSGCT had dyspnea, chest pain, and superior vena cava syndrome. Before 1985, patients received radical resection and/or chemoradiotherapy. However, all patients died due to disease progression, with a median survival period of 7.6 months. After 1986, six of eight patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy, including three who received additional high-dose chemotherapy with a supporting peripheral blood stem cell transplantation until tumor markers normalized. Five patients who underwent salvage resection are currently disease free with a median survival period of 58.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The institutional experience indicates the benign nature of mediastinal mature teratomas and the excellent prognosis for patients with seminomas after resection. An improved survival advantage was ensured with cisplatin-based preoperative chemotherapy in patients with NSGCT.     

Primary malignant mediastinal germ-cell tumors and the contribution of radiotherapy: a southeastern multi-institutional study

A retrospective review was performed by a multi-institutional study group to determine the contribution of radiotherapy to the management of primary malignant mediastinal germ-cell tumors. Twenty-seven patients diagnosed with a primary mediastinal germ-cell tumor between January 1965 and July 1985 form the basis of this study. Twenty-five of the 27 patients were male. Thirteen patients' tumors were diagnosed as seminoma and the remaining 14 patients' tumors had other germ-cell histologies. The single most important prognostic factor was histology, with a 5-year actuarial survival of 100% for the seminomas and only 8.8% for the remaining germ-cell varieties. If total surgical extirpation is not possible, biopsy may be adequate. Of the patients with seminoma, 11 of 12 had local control, and 3 of the 12 patients were treated with doses between 3,000 and 3,100 cGy. High doses for this variety of mediastinal germ-cell tumor might not be required. For the germ-cell tumors other than seminoma, no patient had local control with doses over the range of 3,000-4,750 cGy.     

Intra-arterial chemotherapy with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) for primary mediastinal seminoma

Primary mediastinal malignant germinoma is a rare disease, and only about 15 patients have been reported in Japan. We treated a patient with this disease by intra-arterial CDDP infusion and observed good effects. A 29 year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to SVC syndrome in 1980. A right mediastinal tumor was detected, and the resection of this tumor was performed. Histological examination showed seminoma. Though postoperative Co irradiation was performed, radiation pneumonitis developed in the right lung. Subsequently, the tumor metastasized to the right kidney and spinal cord. After removal of the right kidney followed by Co irradiation, the clinical course was good. In 1987, a mass (10 x 6 cm) was detected in the left mediastinum, suggesting recurrence. Four courses of CDDP infusion into the left bronchial artery and left internal thoracic artery (1 course: 45-70 mg) were performed, and good effects were obtained. No side effects were observed, and the clinical course has been good until now. This case is of interest in evaluating the multidisciplinary treatment for mediastinal seminoma.     

Multimodality treatment of malignant germ cell tumours of the mediastinum

Of 15 patients with malignant germ cell tumours of the mediastinum, 9 patients had pure seminomas and 6 had non-seminomas. Resection was radical in only 4 non-seminomas, 1 of which was resected after chemotherapy; radiotherapy was delivered to all seminoma patients as sole therapy (2 patients) or as part of combined modality therapy. All patients with non-seminomatous tumours underwent chemotherapy (cisplatin-based combination). Therapy was generally well tolerated, but 1 seminoma patient died of sepsis. Chemotherapy achieved a 71% complete response rate in pure seminoma patients and a 33% complete response rate in non-seminoma patients. 53% of patients are alive and free of disease beyond 36 months from start of any treatment. Pure seminoma patients survived longer than non-seminoma patients (3 and 5 year survivals were 67% and 33%, respectively). Although cisplatin-based chemotherapy is highly effective in pure seminomas and also in non-seminomas, a better therapeutic approach is needed in non-seminomas.     

Primary anterior mediastinal seminoma

A review of the Mayo Clinic experience with primary anterior mediastinal seminomas involved 17 patients who had pure anterior mediastinal seminomas and four who had mixed germ-cell tumors containing seminomas. At follow-up, of the 17 patients with pure anterior mediastinal seminoma, nine had no evidence of disease and eight had died of metastatic disease. Of the four patients with mixed germ-cell tumor containing seminoma, two were alive at follow-up and two had died of metastatic disease. In the group with pure anterior mediastinal seminoma, these factors seemed to have been associated with a greater potential for progression of disease: older than 35 years of age, presentation with fever, superior vena caval syndrome, supraclavicular or cervical adenopathy, and roentgenographic evidence of hilar disease.