Primary endodermal sinus tumor of the vulva: a case report and review of the literature

A Subset of SMARCB1 (INI-1)-deficient vulvar neoplasms express germ cell markers

AIMS

SMARCB1 (INI-1)-deficient vulvar neoplasms comprise a group of rare tumours that include epithelioid sarcoma (ES), myoepithelial carcinoma (MEC), the recently described myoepithelioma-like tumour of the vulvar region (MELTVR), and sarcomas that are difficult to classify. It has been suggested that so-called vulvar yolk sac tumours (YST) may represent morphologic variants of SMARCB1-deficient tumours; thus, we investigated the immunoreactivity of germ cell markers in SMARCB1-deficient vulvar neoplasms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Ten SMARCB1-deficient vulvar neoplasms were stained with germ cell tumour markers (SALL4, glypican-3, OCT3/4, and AFP) and re-reviewed for morphologic features. The tumours occurred in adult females (median age 41 years) and included ES (n = 7), MELTVR (n = 2), and MEC (n = 1). All cases showed loss of SMARCB1 expression. Four cases (40%) were focally positive for SALL4 in areas with morphology of typical-appearing ES. One of these cases also showed focal staining for OCT3/4. One ES showed a transition from typical-appearing ES to YST-like morphology, with diffuse expression of SALL4 and glypican-3, and focal expression of AFP, in these latter areas. All other tested cases were negative for AFP.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals that SALL4, glypican-3, and OCT3/4 are positive in a subset of SMARCB1-deficient vulvar neoplasms, which may pose a diagnostic challenge and result in consideration of a germ cell tumour. We also highlight a case with transition from ES to YST-like morphology, lending further support that YSTs of the vulva are somatically derived SMARCB1-deficient neoplasms and do not represent true germ-cell neoplasia.

Vulvar Yolk Sac Tumors Are Somatically Derived SMARCB1 (INI-1)-Deficient Neoplasms

So-called primary yolk sac tumors of the vulva are very rare and often have an aggressive disease course. Their molecular features have not been previously characterized. There is also a well-documented group of SMARCB1 (INI-1)-deficient vulvar neoplasms, which includes proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma and myoepithelial carcinoma. Until now, "vulvar yolk sac tumors" and SMARCB1-deficient neoplasms were considered unrelated diseases. After reviewing an index case of a vulvar yolk sac tumor with loss of SMARCB1 by immunohistochemistry, we retrospectively identified 2 additional cases diagnosed as vulvar yolk sac tumors. Patient ages were 34, 32, and 25 years old, and 2 tumors were associated with a pregnancy. All 3 cases showed morphology typical of a yolk sac tumor, and by immunohistochemistry all were positive for SALL4, glypican-3, keratins, and lacked CD34 positivity. All tumors also demonstrated loss of SMARCB1 in tumor cells. Targeted molecular profiling was performed in 2 cases and identified 2 copy deletion of SMARCB1, without genomic alterations typically seen in gonadal yolk sac tumors. In the third case, isochromosome 12p was not identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization. All 3 patients had either local recurrences or distant metastases, and 2 died of disease. One patient had progressive disease while receiving the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 inhibitor tazemetostat. Overall, these findings suggest that vulvar tumors with pure yolk sac-like morphology may represent morphologic variants of SMARCB1-deficient tumors and not veritable germ cell neoplasia. This potential reclassification may have both prognostic and treatment implications and warrants study of additional extragonadal yolk sac tumors.

Differential Diagnosis of a Unique Vulvar Mass in an Adolescent

BACKGROUND

Vulvar masses in adolescents have a broad differential diagnosis, yet few reports exist detailing masses of mammary origin.

CASE

A nulliparous, healthy 16-year-old adolescent presented with a longstanding, ulcerated, 17-cm vulvar mass of unknown origin and pronounced inguinal lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent a left radical partial vulvectomy, with pathology revealing terminal duct lobular units consistent with polymastia.

CONCLUSION

Differential diagnosis of a vulvar mass in an adolescent should include polymastia.

Pediatric vulvar malignancies: rare but important to know

Malignancies of the vulva in the pediatric population are exceptionally rare, which makes it difficult to gain any insight into their clinicopathologic profile. In this review, we summarize all published cases of a vulva malignancy in pediatric patients (≤21 years) reported in the English language literature for the 50-year period between 1970 and 2020. We estimate that less than 100 malignancies have been reported in total, approximately 50% of which were rhabdomyosarcomas. Invasive squamous cell carcinomas, yolk sac tumors, Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors (ES/PNET) and melanomas each represented approximately 10% of reported cases. For rhabdomyosarcoma, the alveolar and embryonal subtypes were reported with equal frequency, with both representing 70% of cases combined. The average patient age was 9.8 years. 48% and 35% were Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study clinical groupings I and III respectively. Managements were generally multimodal, and overall outcomes for the group were favorable. For invasive squamous cell carcinoma, the patients were all in their teenage years, with an average age at diagnosis of 15.2 years. A small subset of cases were associated with human papillomavirus and immunosuppression, and it is possible that immunosuppression has a role in vulvar squamous carcinogenesis in this population. One case was associated with lichen sclerosus. The patients with yolk sac tumors ranged in age from less than 1 year to 20 years (mean 12) and 67% of cases were stage I at presentation. An insufficient number of cases have been reported to define their prognosis, although some cases were notably aggressive. The few reported cases of melanoma are distinctive only because they were all associated with lichen sclerosus, suggestive of some role for the latter in their pathogenesis. The average age of patients reported with ES/PNET was 15 years (range 3.3 to 20). At least half of the reported cases were advanced stage at presentation, and patient outcomes were notably poor: 62.5% were dead of disease at follow-up. Pediatric vulvar malignancies are rare and are mostly comprised of 5 entities. Their accurate pathologic classification is necessary to facilitate optimal management.

Gynecological cancer among adolescents and young adults (AYA)

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) patients with cancer show specific biological, sociodemographic and behavioral features, with lower survival rates than younger group. Gynecologic malignancies that occur among AYA requires a multidisciplinary management and a tailored model of care, in order to enhance the early diagnosis, the adherence to the treatment, the enrollment in clinical trials, the rate of survival and the quality of life (QoL). In this article, we review the main gynecological tumors that may occur in AYA, with a focus on the clinical signs at the diagnosis and the modality of treatment. In addition, we proposed a model of multidisciplinary and personalized care for AYA with gynecological tumors, which can help the clinicians to manage the specific gynecologic concerns, such as ovarian failure, contraception, fertility, late psychosocial effects.

Mixed Germ Cell Tumor of the Endometrium: A Case Report and Literature Review

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) localized extragonadally are rare, with only 14 reported cases of a yolk sac tumor in the endometrium. Here we report a case of mixed endometrium GCTs in a 65-year-old postmenopausal woman with abnormal vaginal bleeding. An ultrasound examination showed an oval-shaped mass in the patient’s uterine cavity. Biochemical examination revealed elevated serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) at 359 ng/mL, whereas the tumor markers CA-125, CA-199, and CEA were all within normal range. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed;. a histological examination revealed that the malignant components contained a yolk sac tumor, embryonal carcinoma, and focal immature teratoma. Immunohistochemical staining showed that AFPs were diffusively distributed in both the yolk sac tumor and embryonal carcinoma. The stem cell marker OCT3/4 was positive in the embryonal carcinoma component and that the pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3 staining was positive in glandular areas. GFAPs (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Proteins) were positive in neuroectodermal tubules; the Ki-67 protein was positive in 90% of the tumor cells, whereas CD117 and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) were negative. The cumulative evidence indicated mixed GCTs of endometrium as the final histopathological diagnosis. The patient received three courses of adjunct chemotherapy that provided good therapeutic efficacy as evidenced by the decreased serum AFP level. Our report on this rare case of mixed GCTs of the endometrium, supported by associated histological patterns and immunophenotypes and successful adjunct chemotherapy after surgery, could provide insight on future treatment of this rare but lethal disease.

Yolk Sac Tumor in Extragonadal Pelvic Sites: Still a Diagnostic Challenge

We present the clinicopathologic features of 15 cases of extragonadal yolk sac tumor (EGYST) detected in female patients and reviewed at our institution from 1988 to 2016. We recorded: patient age, clinical presentation, tumor location, FIGO stage (where applicable), histologic patterns including presence/absence of Schiller-Duval bodies, other germ cell or somatic components, immunoperoxidase results, treatment, and outcome. Patients' ages ranged from 17 to 87 (median, 62) years and presentation included: abnormal uterine bleeding, 12; hematuria, 1; labial mass, 1; abdominal pain, 1. Primary sites were as follows: uterus (11), vagina (1), vulva (1), bladder (1), and peritoneum (1). Seven patients presented at FIGO stage III or IV. The following histologic patterns were observed: microcystic/reticular (7), glandular (8), solid (8), papillary (5), and hepatoid (1). An admixture of histologic patterns was present in 10 cases. Schiller-Duval bodies were seen in only 3 (23%) cases. Eight cases (46%), all uterine primaries, had associated somatic components, and 2 (15%) had a second germ cell component. In 13/14 (93%) cases, the yolk sac tumor component was either missed or misclassified as adenocarcinoma. Immunoperoxidase studies facilitated the diagnosis in all cases as follows: SALL4, 12/12; CDX2, 10/12; α fetoprotein, 7/14; glypican-3, 9/10; cytokeratin 20, 5/9 (rare cells); cytokeratin 7, 3/12 (nondiffuse); PAX8, 2/9 (variable expression). All patients received chemotherapy and all except 1 underwent surgical resection. Follow-up from 5 to 86 months was available for 13 patients: 5 died of disease, 6 are alive with disease, and 2 have no evidence of disease. EGYST arising in the female pelvis of peri/postmenopausal patients may be associated with a somatic component and represent either somatically derived YST or YST differentiation within a somatic carcinoma. EGYST in younger patients is likely a true germ cell neoplasm, and may respond to germ cell appropriate chemotherapy. The benefit of germ cell appropriate chemotherapy in somatically derived EGYST is less clear. Awareness that the presence of glandular or microcystic patterns may lead to under-recognition or misdiagnosis of EGYST in combination with immunomarkers for germ cell and yolk sac differentiation will facilitate the diagnosis.

Unusual Presentations of Gynecologic Tumors: Extragonadal Yolk Sac Tumor of the Vulva

Extragonadal germ cell tumors are uncommon, and although they morphologically resemble their gonadal counterparts, unexpected gonadal presentation increases the potential for erroneous diagnoses. Yolk sac tumor is a malignant germ cell tumor characterized by an extraembryonic yolk sac line of differentiation, and relative to other germ cell tumors, is characterized by varied and diverse histologic patterns. When occurring outside of typical age parameters or in extragonadal locations, the histologic variability of yolk sac tumor and its tendency to mimic somatic tumors pose diagnostic challenges. Because extragonadal yolk sac tumor of the vulva is very rare, with only isolated case reports and small series in the literature, it is often not considered in the differential diagnosis. As both prognosis and management of yolk sac tumor differ significantly from those of somatic tumors, accurate diagnosis is essential. This review discusses histologic features of extragonadal yolk sac tumor, addresses somatic tumors arising in the vulva for which yolk sac tumor may be confused, and provides guidance with respect to the use of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of yolk sac tumor.

Vulvar yolk sac tumor diagnosed during pregnancy, with recurrence during subsequent second pregnancy

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Vulvar yolk sac tumor (YST) is an exceptionally rare and aggressive extra-gonadal germ cell tumor, previously only described in 15 cases in the literature.

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We present a unique case of vulvar YST diagnosed during pregnancy, treated with systemic chemotherapy, who subsequently recurred during a second pregnancy.

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Despite salvage chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation at recurrence, our patient succumbed to her disease, 31 months post diagnosis.

Yolk sac tumor of the vulva: a case report with recurrence after long-term follow-up

A yolk sac tumor (YST) of the vulva is extremely rare and highly malignant with recurrence frequently occurring within a year. This report presents the 13th known case of vulvar YST, with recurrence occurring after the longest known follow-up period so far reported in the literature.

Yolk sac tumor in the nasal cavity

Yolk sac carcinoma (YST) is rare malignant tumor of germ cell origin. It most commonly arises from the gonads but extragonadal sites of origin are reported in 20% of the cases. Head and neck germ cell tumors are uncommon and only a small number are malignant. We present the case of a 48 years old man presenting with a YST of the sinonasal tract and the arterior skull base. The patient underwent an anterior craniofacial resection and postoperative radiotherapy and continues showing no evidence of disease seven years after treatment. We discuss radiological and histological features of this tumor and provide a review of three other cases of YST arising in children.

Isolated orbital endodermal sinus tumor

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical, serologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings of an isolated endodermal sinus tumor of the orbit in a 1-year-old boy.

METHODS

A retrospective case report and literature review.

RESULTS

The patient was managed by the ophthalmology and oncology services. After the diagnosis was established by serologic analysis and histopathology, the patient underwent chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Endodermal sinus tumor is a malignant germ-cell tumor that usually involves the gonadal tissue. Primary extragonadal sites occur rarely, and include the orbit. Treatment options include surgical removal and chemotherapy.

Old and new perspectives in the management of high-risk, locally advanced or recurrent, and metastatic vulvar cancer

During the last decades there has been a continuing evolution in the surgical approach of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva that has been traditionally treated with radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy. Patients with T1 tumour are usually treated with radical local excision, if the lesion is unifocal and the remainder of the vulva is normal. Patients with T1a disease have no risk of groin metastases and do not need lymphadenectomy, whereas those with T1b disease need ipsilateral inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy if the lesion is lateral, and bilateral lymphadenectomy if the lesion is midline. Modifications of the surgical technique of deep femoral lymphadenectomy and the mapping of sentinel node can offer new interesting therapeutic perspectives. Postoperative adjuvant pelvic and groin irradiation is warranted for patients with two or more or macroscopically involved groin nodes. Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva has been long surgically treated with en-block radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy plus partial resection of urethra, vagina or anum, or by exenteration, with severe postsurgical complications, poor quality of life, and unsatisfactory survival rates. 5-Fluorouracil [5-FU] or 5-FU- and cisplatin-based chemotherapy concurrent with irradiation followed by tailored surgery represents an attractive therapeutic option for advanced disease, planned to avoid such ultra-radical surgical procedures and, hopefully, to improve patient outcome. Chemotherapy has also been used in neoadjuvant setting, with contrasting and generally unsatisfactory results, and in palliative treatment of patients with distant metastases. Surgery is the primary treatment also for vulvar malignancies other than squamous cell carcinoma, whereas the clinical usefulness of adjuvant irradiation or chemotherapy is still to be defined. Primary chemoradiation can be also used for advanced carcinoma of the Bartholin gland or for advanced adenocarcinoma associated with extramammary Paget's disease. The drugs used for chemotherapy of metastatic melanomas or sarcomas of the vulva are the same employed for the melanomas or sarcomas developed in other sites.

Yolk sac tumor of the vulva: a case report with long-term disease-free survival

BACKGROUND

Yolk sac tumor (YST) of the vulva is extremely rare. Seven cases of vulvar YST have been reported to the literature. Due to the rarity of tumors, the appropriate choice of treatment may remain unclear.

CASE

A 30-year-old woman presented with a 3.5-cm right labial mass. Excisional biopsy showed YST with predominant solid pattern. Three weeks after excision, right inguinal lymph node biopsy revealed metastatic tumor. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was not elevated. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy was administered, followed by pelvic and groin irradiation. The patient was free of disease 90 months after the diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Local excision of tumor with adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy can be justified for vulvar YST. Inguinal lymphadenectomy is recommended because metastasis may occur early. Adjuvant radiation therapy may help to control the disease. Tumor size of 5 cm or less may be a favorable prognostic factor. Serum AFP level may not be a sensitive marker for follow-up of vulvar YST.

Endodermal sinus tumor of the vulva: successfully treated with high-dose chemotherapy

Endodermal sinus tumors (EST) of the lower female genital tract are uncommon malignancies. Most of these tumors are found in the vagina or in the cervix. Only seven cases of EST involving the vulva are reported. We report an eighth case of vulvar EST. The patient recurred and was successfully treated with high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood cell transplantation. Because of their location, an early diagnosis of vulvar EST should be possible. Resection of the lesion by using a modified radical vulvectomy followed by cisplatin-based chemotherapy seems the best treatment for these tumors today. Our patient was initially treated with the help of local surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of three courses of etoposide and cisplatin. Sixteen months after the first diagnosis, pleural and lung metastases were diagnosed. Second-line chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell support was administered after resection of the lung metastases and biopsy of the pleural metastases. There is no evidence of disease 40 months after the diagnosis of the lung and pleural metastases, and 56 months after the primary diagnosis.

Extragonadal yolk sac tumor in pelvic localization. A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Yolk sac tumor (YST) is a rare neoplasm that usually arises in the testis or ovary. We report a case of extragonadal yolk sac tumor located in the pelvic area.

CASE

A 33-year-old woman was admitted with a history of abdominal pain and distension. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed a 63 x 63-mm hyperechoic mass and pelvic computerized scanning reported a pelvic mass mimicking a subserous myoma. Exploration findings revealed an extragonadal mass and she was treated with left pelvic mass extirpation, bilateral ovarian wedge resection, and reconstruction. Pelvic, paraaortic lymph node dissection and total omentectomy were also added to the operation. Histological evaluation of the specimen exhibited typical patterns of endodermal sinus tumor and stained for a-fetoprotein and cytokeratin. Four courses of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin combination chemotherapy repeated every 3 weeks were added to therapy and she has remained free of disease for 6 months after completion of the therapy.