[Extragonadal germ-cell tumors located in the mediastinum]. / Tumores de células germinales extragonadales de localización mediastínica.

INTRODUCTION: The extragonadal germ-cell tumors (EGGCT) represent 5% of all germ-cell tumors at presentation. Histologically, they are identical to testis germ cell tumors. They may arise in such sites as the mediastinum, retroperitoneal area, sacrococcygeal area, or pineal area without a primary in the testis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medical records of 10 patients with mediastinal EGGCT were reviewed between 1973 and 1996. All patients were males and his mean age was 26.7 years old (21-24). Follow-up was 19 months (3-72). RESULTS: The first symptoms are diverse. The histology results nonseminomatous tumor at 9 patients and seminomatous tumor at the restant. All of the scrotal examination was normal and only five patients presented increased tumoral markers (alpha-FP in 4 and beta-HCG in 1). Previous at 1990 didn't exist a standard treatment, resulting the four patients treated in this period exitus. After 1990 the treatment was cisplatin-based chemotherapy: BEP (bleomicyn, etoposide-VP-16- and cisplatin-CDDP) then we obtained the best results, a patient died after 6 months but the restants five are alive and without evidence of disease during a follow-up between 3 and 72 months.

[Ask-Upmark kidney: description of a case and review of the literature]. / Riñón de Ask--Upmark: descripción de un caso y revisión en la literatura.

We present a 15-year-old male patient diagnosed histopathologically as suffering from Ask-Upmark kidney, in the absence of vesicoureteral reflux and with hypertension. The first clinical manifestation was completely atypical: right loin pain, with so many agudisation treated at our emergency serve that justified a thorough study. The pathogenesis of the Ask-Upmark kidney is still unknown; some authors defend the congenital malformation hypothesis, as it was first described in 1929, but there are groups who support the Ask-Upmark kidney as a form of reflux nephropathy. After our description we present a review of the literature.