Traumatic hemothorax resulting from rupture of mediastinal teratoma: a case report.

Ruptured cystic mature teratoma of anterior mediastinum is rare. This 45-year-old woman complained of sudden onset of chest pain and dyspnea after a traffic accident. Physical examination revealed decrease of breath sounds over the left chest. Chest X-ray showed pleural fluid accumulation of the left pleural cavity. Computed tomography scan of the chest revealed a heterogenous cystic mass lesion approximately 11.5 x 10 x 7 cm in size in the left anterior mediastinum and left pleural effusion. Under the impression of mediastinal tumor and traumatic hemothorax, she received excision of the mediastinal mass and evacuation of left pleural fluid through a left lateral thoracotomy. She recovered uneventfully after operation and was discharged on postoperative day 11.