ABSTRACT
Twenty nine cases of primary mediastinal germ cell tumours (MGCT) were seen at the Tata Memorial Hospital over a 16--year period (1974-1989). There were 5 benign MGCT occurring predominantly in females (80%), with these patients having an excellent result after surgery with all patients disease free at an median follow-up of 27 months. Malignant MGCT occurred only in males and demonstrated wide variation in response to treatment depending upon whether the tumour was seminomatous or non-seminomatous. There were 11 Seminomas, 5 Embryonal carcinomas, 5 Endodermal sinus tumours and 3 Teratocarcinomas. The diagnosis was established by surgical exploration or by biopsy of a lymph node or chest wall nodule in 20 patients. Four patients had needle biopsy. Seminomatous MGCT received radiotherapy as their main treatment modality and did well with 75% of the patients alive without disease at an average follow up of 33 months. The non-seminomatous MGCT could be divided into two groups. The mean survival for patients receiving cisplatinum based chemotherapy was 14 months as compared to the group not receiving such therapy where the survival was only 5.3 months. However, because of the advanced disease at presentation even in the group receiving cisplatinum chemotherapy, a long term complete response rate of only 20% could be achieved.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Carcinoma, Embryonal/diagnosis , Child , Child, Preschool , Cisplatin/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use , Endodermal Sinus Tumor/diagnosis , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Male , Mediastinal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/diagnosis , Radiotherapy Dosage , Seminoma/diagnosis , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Congenital tracheo-esophageal fistula without esophageal atresia was diagnosed on barium swallow radiography and esophagoscopy findings in an adult patient presenting with difficult in swallowing. The fistulous opening seen on the anterior wall of the esophagus led to the trachea. On bronchoscopy, the tracheal opening was located posteriorly 5 cm below the vocal cords. Successful repair was undertaken via a left cervical approach. The anatomical and developmental basis for the preferred approach is discussed with a brief literature review on the subject.