Neoadjuvant Bleomycin, Etoposide, and Cisplatin (BEP) Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Extensively Advanced Yolk Sac Tumors: A Single Center Experience

Yolk sac tumor of the liver in an infant: A case report

Yolk sac tumors can occur in various extragonadal sites, including the hepatobiliary tract, and are often associated with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein. We report the case of a 14-month-old male infant presenting with abdominal pain and distension. Ultrasound and computed tomography scans of the abdomen revealed contiguous hepatic masses with lobulated contours, containing areas of necrosis. The patient underwent surgical resection, and histological studies confirmed the diagnosis of a yolk sac tumor. The occurrence of a yolk sac tumor in the liver is extremely rare. Ultrasound and cross-sectional imaging can be highly effective in diagnosing these tumors when combined with biopsy procedures to confirm the diagnosis. Although rare, yolk sac tumors of the liver should be considered a differential diagnosis for hepatic masses.

Advanced ovarian yolk sac tumor: upfront surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking?

OBJECTIVE

To compare surgery and survival outcomes between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and primary debulking surgery in patients with advanced ovarian yolk sac tumor.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort analysis, patients with stage III to IV ovarian yolk sac tumor or mixed germ cell tumors containing yolk sac tumor elements, and who underwent surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2011 and December 2021, were identified. Patient characteristics, treatment, and survival data were analyzed between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients were enrolled: 19 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval surgery, and 21 patients were treated with primary debulking surgery. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the surgical conditions of patients were improved. All patients achieved cytoreduction to R0 or R1 at interval surgery. No statistical difference was found in 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival between the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group and the primary debulking surgery group (log rank p=0.4 and 0.94). Patients had less blood loss (328.4 vs 1285.7 mL, p=0.029), lower transfusion volume (1044.4 vs 3066.7 mL, p=0.011), and fewer peri-operative complications (15.8% vs 47.6%, p=0.032) at the interval debulking surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with patients who underwent primary debulking surgery.

CONCLUSION

For patients with advanced-stage ovarian yolk sac tumor, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval surgery is an alternative option, especially for those who cannot tolerate the primary debulking surgery because of high tumor burden and vulnerable status.

Case Report: Primary endodermal sinus tumor on the abdominal wall near the right liver: a diagnostic pitfall

Background

Endodermal sinus tumors are rare, especially extragonadal endodermal sinus tumors, which often occur in the midline of the brain, neck, chest, and abdomen.

Case summary

We present the case of a 37-year-old woman with a mass on the right edge of the liver. Color Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed before the operation. Given these results and the elevation of alpha-fetoprotein, the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was made. Postoperative pathological examination indicated an endodermal sinus tumor on the abdominal wall near the right liver. The causes of misdiagnosis were analyzed, and the related literature was reviewed.

Conclusion

Primary endodermal sinus tumors on the abdominal wall near the right liver are easily misdiagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma due to liver compression and elevated alpha-fetoprotein. The key point of differentiation is the wide basal connection between the tumor and the abdominal wall near the liver. In addition, the enhancement mode of endodermal sinus tumors is different from the enhancement pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Core tip

Extragonadal endodermal sinus tumors often occur in the midline of the body. Here, we present a case of a primary endodermal sinus tumor on the abdominal wall near the right liver for the first time.

Systematic Review of the Survival Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Women with Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors

Randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer have predominantly included women with high-grade serous carcinomas. The response rate and oncological outcomes of NACT for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT) are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the effects of NACT on women with MOGCT by conducting a systematic review of four public search engines. Fifteen studies were identified, and a further descriptive analysis was performed for 10 original articles. In those studies, most women were treated with a bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin regimen, and one to three cycles were used in most studies. Four studies comparing NACT and primary debulking surgery showed similar complete response rates (n = 2; pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-5.27), comparable overall survival (n = 3; 87.0-100% versus 70.0-100%), disease-free survival (n = 3; 87.0-100% versus 70.0-100%), recurrence rate (n = 1; OR 3.50, 95%CI 0.38-32.50), and adverse events rate from chemotherapy between the groups. In conclusion, NACT may be considered for the management of MOGCT; however, possible candidates for NACT use and an ideal number of NACT cycles remain unknown. Further studies are warranted to validate the efficacy of NACT in advanced MOGCT patients.

Renal Yolk Sac Tumor Clinically Misdiagnosed as Nephroblastoma: A Case Report

Background: Yolk sac tumor is a germ cell tumor (GCT) that occurs in infants and adolescents and affects various sites. There is a trend to treat pediatric renal tumors before a tissue diagnosis. We report a renal yolk sac tumor clinically misdiagnosed as Wilms tumor, based on ultrasound (US) and MRI.Case Report: This 21-month-old male infant was discovered to have a space occupying lesion in the right kidney. Because the tumor was large, initial radiotherapy preceded surgical resection. Histologically, the tumor was a yolk sac tumor.Conclusion: Imaging examination of renal yolk sac tumor can easily be misdiagnosed as Wilms tumor. SIOP treatment plan for Wilms tumor requires preoperative chemotherapy, which is different from the treatment regimen for yolk sac tumor. Preoperative alpha-fetoprotein could have been helpful in avoiding this clinical misdiagnosis.

Management of a Primary Retroperitoneal Yolk Sac Tumor

Patient: Male, 31-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Primary retroperitoneal yolk sac tumor

Symptoms: Lower abdominal pain

Medication:—

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Oncology • Surgery

Pregnancy and Delivery After Ovarian Yolk Sac Tumor: A Case Report

Patient: Female, 24-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Primary infertility • yolk sac tumor

Symptoms: Abdomen distension • infertility

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Salpingo-oophorectomy

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology • Oncology • Pathology

Cytoreductive surgery in advanced stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the survival effect of cytoreductive surgery in advanced stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clinicopathological data of patients with MOGCT that were treated between 1991 and 2014. Maximal debulking was defined as no gross residual tumor after primary or recurrence surgery; optimal and suboptimal debulking were used for patients with residual tumors of ≤1cm and >1cm, respectively.

RESULTS

In total, 31 patients with advanced stage MOGCT were analyzed. The median age at diagnosis was 21 (14-57) years. The median follow-up duration was 64.1 months. Of these 31 patients; 7 patients underwent sub-optimal debulking, 5 patients had optimal surgery and 18 had maximal debulking. Five-year DFS according to surgical resection rates were 29% in suboptimal debulking group, 75% in optimal debulking group and 93% in maximal cytoreduction group (p<0.001). Three of seven patients who underwent sub-optimal debulking were died of disease, however no deaths were seen in patients with optimal and maximal debulking. Five-year OS was 32% in suboptimal debulking group, and 100% in optimal and maximal debulking groups (p=0.001).

DISCUSSION

The benefit of cytoreductive surgery is less well-established in MOGCT of ovary compared to ovarian tumors of epithelial origin due to rareness of this histological subtype. Patients with MOGCT are usually younger and preservation of fertility is an important issue which may lead to suboptimal procedures, sometimes in exchange for diminished survival. Our data demonstrated that maximal cytoreduction should be aimed in patients with advanced stage MOGCT, as it is significantly associated with improved overall survival.