Benign metachronous bilateral ovarian and mediastinal teratomas with an elevated alpha-fetoprotein

Abstract

Teratomas are a common form of non-seminomatous germ cell tumor histologically composed of tissues derived from multiple cell lines of the primary embryonic germ cell layers. There are few cases reported in the literature that describe multiple locations with recurrence of benign teratomas, none of which describe an elevated AFP. We describe a case of metachronous bilateral recurrent ovarian and mediastinal teratomas with a curiously elevated α-fetoprotein. We may be describing a novel syndrome of recurrent metachronous teratomas. Because of the uncertainty of this case, the patient will require close follow-up over the next several years.