Malignant triton tumour of the anterior mediastinum as incidental finding

Abstract

A rare case of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation (malignant triton tumour) of the anterior mediastinum in a 30-year-old male is reported. The tumour was an incidental finding during the diagnostic work-up following a motor vehicle accident. The patient underwent median sternotomy with a tumour resection performed. Local relapse was suspected one month later, as per the chest CT-scan, and post-operative chemoradiation was applied, which produced a response. Twelve months later the patient is doing well while radiological findings remain invariable. Localization of a triton tumour in the anterior mediastinum, is extremely rare, adjuvant treatment is necessary, recurrence frequently occurs and the prognosis is dismal.