Background and aims Patients affected by metastatic germ cell tumors may occasionally experience enlargement of metastatic lesions with concurrent normalization of tumor markers after chemotherapy. This phenomenon is described as Growing Teratoma Syndrome (GTS). The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of GTS in the pediatric population and its implications in terms of surgical outcome. Methods The clinical notes of patients diagnosed with stage III and IV malignant germ cell tumors from January 2010 until December 2020 at our Institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with residual disease after chemotherapy were studied; the occurrence of GTS, treatment strategies, survival and outcome were analyzed. Results Thirty-three patients with high stage malignant germ cell tumors were diagnosed in our Institution in the analyzed period. Eleven patients (34%) had radiologic evidence of enlargement of metastases after chemotherapy; nine of them (28%) had normal markers after chemotherapy and were classified as GTS patients. All nine patients underwent resection of metastatic lymph nodes and six had surgery on visceral metastases. In six patients, radical excision of all metastatic sites was achieved; five patients are alive and in complete remission while one died for peri-operative complications. Out of the three patients who could not achieve radical excision of the metastases, two died for progressive disease and one is alive with progressive disease. Conclusions Patients affected by GTS have a risk of progression of chemotherapy-resistant disease and death. Radical surgical excision is essential to achieve disease control and long-term survival.

Background and aims Thoracic air leak syndrome (TALS) is a complication related to chronic pulmonary graft-versus-host disease (pGvHD) that affects approximately 0.83% to 3.08% patients after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Such complication is defined as the occurrence of any form of air leak in the thorax, including spontaneous pneumomediastinum or pneumopericardium, subcutaneous emphysema, interstitial emphysema and pneumothorax and has a negative impact on post-transplant survival. The aim of the present study is to describe a single-center experience in the surgical management of recurrent TALS in adolescents and young adults and its outcome. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical notes of patients with previous allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant who underwent surgical procedures for recurrent TALS from January 2016 until March 2021. As well we analyzed clinical data, number of episodes of thoracic air leak, surgical procedures and relative outcome. Results In the examined period, four patients, aged 16 to 25 years, underwent surgical procedures for TALS, including thoracostomy tube placement, thoracoscopic pleurodesis and thoracotomy. All the patients had been diagnosed with pGvHD before the onset of TALS, with a mean time lapse of 276 days (range 42 – 513). These patients experienced on average 4.5 air leak episodes (range 3 – 6). All the patients experienced at least two episodes before surgery. One patient underwent emergency tube thoracostomy only, three patients underwent thoracoscopic pleurodesis and two patients underwent thoracotomy. After surgery, patients were free from air leak symptoms for a mean time of 176 days (range 25 – 477). Pulmonary function progressively deteriorated, and all the patients eventually died because of respiratory failure after a mean time of 483 days (range 127 – 1045) after the first episode of air leak. Conclusions Surgery provides temporary relief to symptoms related to TALS. When TALS develops, pulmonary function progressively worsens toward respiratory failure and death.

Thoracic air leak syndrome (TALS) is a complication related to chronic pulmonary graft-versus-host disease (pGvHD) and is defined as the occurrence of any form of air leak in the thorax. Four patients, aged 16 to 25 years, underwent surgical procedures for TALS between January 2016 and March 2021. All the patients experienced at least two episodes before surgery. After surgery, patients were temporarily free from air leak symptoms. All the patients eventually died because of respiratory failure. Surgery provides temporary relief to symptoms related to TALS. When TALS develops, pulmonary function progressively worsens toward respiratory failure and death.