Malignant “triton” tumor of the posterior mediastinum: prolonged survival after staged resection

Malignant “Triton” tumor is a rare subtype of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor showing rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. We report the case of a 22-year-old patient who had excision of such a tumor by video-assisted thoracic surgery. He was reoperated on by thoracotomy 2 months later and received adjuvant radiation, with prolonged survival. Radical surgical excision of malignant Triton tumor followed by adjuvant radiation therapy may provide the longest survival and represent the treatment of choice.