Malignant “triton” tumor of the posterior mediastinum: prolonged survival after staged resection

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 75; no. 5; pp. 1645 - 1648
• Main Authors: Lang-Lazdunski, L.oïc, Pons, François, Jancovici, René
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cranial nerves. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system; Disease-Free Survival; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Mediastinal Neoplasms - surgery; Medical sciences; Neurilemmoma - diagnosis; Neurilemmoma - surgery; Neurosurgery; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; 13; Human; Peripheral nerve; Nervous system diseases; Treatment efficiency; Adjuvant treatment; Clinical form; Video technique; Surgical resection; Malignant tumor; Radiotherapy; Sheath; Case study; Guidance; Treatment; Surgery; Endoscopy; Peripheral nerve disease; Thoracoscopy
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04825-7

Malignant “Triton” tumor is a rare subtype of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor showing rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. We report the case of a 22-year-old patient who had excision of such a tumor by video-assisted thoracic surgery. He was reoperated on by thoracotomy 2 months later and received adjuvant radiation, with prolonged survival. Radical surgical excision of malignant Triton tumor followed by adjuvant radiation therapy may provide the longest survival and represent the treatment of choice.