Yolk Sac Tumor : Treatment & Prognosis

Comments:
Treatment: Yolk sac tumor is treated by radical orchiectomy. Serum AFP levels are helpful in preoperative diagnosis as well as in follow-up after surgery to monitor for possible recurrence. Metastatic work-up is required for tumor staging.

Metastases occur in about 33% of postpubertal cases. Between 10%-20% of children with YST present with metastases, usually to lungs followed by retroperitoneal lymph nodes, liver, and bones. When metastases develop later, they usually appear within 14 months of diagnosis.

There is some data suggesting that the presence of certain histologic patterns (glandular, hepatoid, parietal, and sarcomatoid) is associated with resistance to chemotherapy and late recurrences.

The image shows microcystic pattern in a yolk sac tumor. Immature tubules of prepubertal testis are seen on the left.