This disease represents a high percentage of lymphomas in younger people. The disease has an aggressive course and, untreated, causes the death of those affected. This gender distribution is the opposite of other types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Very few patients are over the age of 50. Rapidly growing mediastinal tumor, sometimes palpable in supraclavicular area Superior vena cava syndrome is common.
Shortness of breath can be due to pleural effusion or massive mediastinal mass.
If there is recurrence, spread to parenchymal organs such as liver, kidneys, or brain is common. Alpha fetoprotein and beta HCG levels - These markers are often highly elevated in mediastinal germ cell tumors, which constitutes an important differential diagnosis in males. Diffuse infiltrate consisting of large cells. Clear cells are common. Fibrosis occurs variably in some areas of the tumor.