Pericarditis Secondary to Benign Mediastinal Teratoma: A Case Report
Abstract
Mediastinal teratomas are rare tumors presenting with a wide range of clinical manifestations depending on the location and size of the tumor and its resulting mass effect. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardial sac and can be caused by infectious and non-infectious causes. Pericardial effusion is the accumulation of excess fluid in the pericardial sac and can be a complication of pericarditis. In this case report, we discuss a 19-year-old male with a known anterior mediastinal mass presenting with pericarditis complicated by pericardial effusion. Three days prior to surgical removal, the patient presented with three of the four diagnostic criteria for pericarditis including classic pericardial chest pain, ST elevations on electrocardiogram, pericardial effusion on computerized tomography angiogram (CTA), and elevated ESR and CRP. As the patient was hemodynamically stable, it was planned to drain the effusion the day of the surgical removal of the teratoma. Intraoperatively, the right pleural effusion was found to be an empyema requiring decortication, drainage, and empiric antibiotics. Postoperatively, he no longer experienced pleuritic chest pain, and an echocardiogram performed one month later revealed normal left ventricle systolic function with minimal residual pericardial effusion. Histopathological analysis of the anterior mediastinal mass confirmed the diagnosis of a mature teratoma. The close anatomical proximity of the tumor to the pericardium resulted in irritation, inflammation, and development of pericardial effusion. This case study highlights the unusual case of pericarditis caused by a mediastinal teratoma and serves as an addition to the limited literature for this rare clinical association.
Start Time
15-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 4:30 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
3
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Subtype
Posters - Competitive
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate and Professional Degree Students, Residents, Fellows
Faculty Mentor
Janet Lubas
Pericarditis Secondary to Benign Mediastinal Teratoma: A Case Report
Culp Ballroom 316
Mediastinal teratomas are rare tumors presenting with a wide range of clinical manifestations depending on the location and size of the tumor and its resulting mass effect. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardial sac and can be caused by infectious and non-infectious causes. Pericardial effusion is the accumulation of excess fluid in the pericardial sac and can be a complication of pericarditis. In this case report, we discuss a 19-year-old male with a known anterior mediastinal mass presenting with pericarditis complicated by pericardial effusion. Three days prior to surgical removal, the patient presented with three of the four diagnostic criteria for pericarditis including classic pericardial chest pain, ST elevations on electrocardiogram, pericardial effusion on computerized tomography angiogram (CTA), and elevated ESR and CRP. As the patient was hemodynamically stable, it was planned to drain the effusion the day of the surgical removal of the teratoma. Intraoperatively, the right pleural effusion was found to be an empyema requiring decortication, drainage, and empiric antibiotics. Postoperatively, he no longer experienced pleuritic chest pain, and an echocardiogram performed one month later revealed normal left ventricle systolic function with minimal residual pericardial effusion. Histopathological analysis of the anterior mediastinal mass confirmed the diagnosis of a mature teratoma. The close anatomical proximity of the tumor to the pericardium resulted in irritation, inflammation, and development of pericardial effusion. This case study highlights the unusual case of pericarditis caused by a mediastinal teratoma and serves as an addition to the limited literature for this rare clinical association.
