[Primary malignant germinal tumors of the mediastinum. Results from a national retrospective survey].

The object of this enquiry was to group together a series of patients with a mediastinal germ cell tumour who were diagnosed and treated between 1983-1990 to specify their clinical characters and their prognostic factors and to evaluate the current therapeutic strategies. Out of a total of 87 cases that were analysed 23 had seminomas and 64 malignant dysembryomas. Amongst the 23 patients suffering from seminomas, 8 had first been treated by surgery, 13 by chemotherapy and 2 by radiotherapy. At the end of treatment 22 made a complete response and 4 patients relapsed after 4-13 months following a complete response. 3 patients had metastases at the outset and were alive and in complete response at 1,4 and 7 years respectively. The survival level at 2 years for seminomas was 84%. Of 64 patients suffering from a malignant dysembryoma, 19 were first treated with surgery (10 by complete resection) followed by chemotherapy in 17 cases. At the end of treatment 12 patients were in complete remission. Only one of these patients had a subsequent relapse. 45 patients were first treated by chemotherapy (10 complete responses, 26 partial responses) then secondary surgery was performed in 22 cases, allowing a complete remission in 21. Seven malignant dysembryomas relapsed after an initial complete remission. The patients treated for pure choriocarcinoma were 7 in number: 6 of these received primary chemotherapy. One patient underwent a secondary resection and was living at 26 months. The other 5 died rapidly. The 2 year survival for malignant dysembryomas was 52%. The median survival was 28 months. There was a significant difference in surviyal between dysembryomas in complete remission and those in partial remission.