Publication:

From teratoma to sarcoma: unveiling a rare somatic transformation in a mediastinal germ cell tumor

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are neoplasms primarily arising from gonadal tissues, occasionally occurring in extra gonadal sites. Though generally responsive to chemotherapy, a rare complication is the development of somatic malignancy within the tumor, such as sarcomas or carcinomas, leading to poorer prognosis and complex management. They are driven by genetic/epigenetic changes and dedifferentiation of pluripotent cells. Here we present a rare case of 31-year-old male with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) subtype of somatic-type malignancy within a mediastinal GCT.