Surgical Pathology Criteria–

Germ Cell Tumors of the Mediastinum / Thymus

Classification / Lists

Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors (excluding CNS)

Age Site Histology Comments
Congenital / Neonatal Primarily sacrococcygeal, others midline Teratoma with or without YST Immaturity and histologic type not critical; may recur post resection but curable with chemotherapy
Childhood (7 mo - puberty) Various midline Usually YST Rare but frequently aggressive
Adult Cervical / thyroid / mediastinum / thymus Mature teratoma Benign
    Immature teratoma, YST, others Potentially aggressive; mediastinal tumors may be associated with hematologic malignancy
  Sacrococcygeal Mature Teratoma Benign
    Immature teratoma Probably benign, has not been shown to be aggressive
    Other germ cell tumors Rare, aggressive
  Retroperitoneum Any type Most should be considered metastases from gonadal primary
YST = yolk sac tumor; table based on McKenney JK, Heerema-McKenney A, Rouse RV. Extragonadal germ cell tumors: a review with emphasis on pathologic features, clinical prognostic variables and differential diagnostic features. Adv Anat Pathol 2007, 14:69-92.

 

Non-Thymic Neoplasms that May Arise Primarily in the Thymus

Miscellaneous Thymic Lesions and Conditions

Intrinsic Tumors of the Thymus

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