Yolk sac primary tumor of mediastino: a rare case in a young adult

Extensive surgical resections for rare pleural neoplasms: a single-center experience with a yolk sac tumor and synovial sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Pleural neoplasms are rare and can be subdivided into pleural metastasis and primary pleural neoplasms. Non-mesothelioma primary pleural neoplasms are a diverse group of extremely rare pathologies.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this case series, we describe the presentation and management of two rare primary pleural neoplasms. A first case describes a primary pleural yolk sac tumor treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, extended pleurectomy decortication, and hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy. In a second case we describe the management of a primary pleural synovial sarcoma by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and extrapleural pneumonectomy. A complete resection was obtained in both cases and the post-operative course was uncomplicated. No signs of tumor recurrence were noted during follow-up in the first patient. In the second patient a local recurrence was diagnosed 6 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by extensive thoracic surgery, including hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy, is a feasible treatment strategy for non-mesothelioma primary pleural neoplasms, but careful follow-up is required.

Primary mediastinal yolk sac tumor: A case report and literature review

Key Clinical Message

There are limited published cases of primary mediastinal yolk sac tumor (PMYST), with no consensus on the best treatment alternative. By far, the surgery oriented comprehensive therapies are the main treatment methods. The surgical strategy should be individualized and aimed at radical resection, considering all the possibilities, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and prosthetic materials.

Abstract

A 15-year-old boy was diagnosed as PMYST. The tumor, with a size about 13 × 12 × 8 cm, was located in the right upper mediastinum, closely adhering to ascending aorta, superior vena cava, right atrium, and the right hilum. After 6 cycles chemotherapy of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP), no significant change was found in the size of tumor. Subsequently, an extended tumor excision including partial resection of the right lung, the pericardium, the diaphragm and the right phrenic nerve, was performed successfully with cardiopulmonary bypass on standby. During 6 months of follow-up, there was no tumor recurrence. Meanwhile, in PubMed, we searched the English case reports and case series of PMYST during the past decade. A total of 73 articles were retrieved, in which 22 articles on the therapy and prognosis of PMYST were extracted and reviewed, included 16 case reports and 6 case series with a total of 52 patients. Due to the rarity of PMYST, it is difficult to provide a specific treatment regimen. The surgery-oriented comprehensive therapies are still the main treatment methods. The surgical strategy should be individualized and aim at radical resection, considering all the possibilities, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and prosthetic materials.

Dramatic response to local radiotherapy in a refractory metastatic mediastinal yolk sac tumor patient harboring a germline BRCA2 frameshift mutation: a case report

Mediastinal yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are highly aggressive germ cell tumors with an extremely poor prognosis. Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of mediastinal YSTs. To maximize benefit from radiotherapy in patients with mediastinal YSTs, exploring functionally relevant biomarkers is essential. Previous studies have demonstrated that mutations in DNA-damage repair (DDR) genes, including BRCA1/2, potentially enhance sensitivity to radiotherapy in solid tumors. However, DDR-gene mutations, as possible predictive biomarkers for radiotherapy in primary mediastinal YSTs, have not yet been reported. Herein, we report a 29-year-old male patient with a refractory metastatic primary YST involving a germline frameshift mutation in the BRCA2 gene (NM_000059.3: exon11: c.4563_4564delAT: L1522fs). During treatment alternation, the patient was found to respond poorly to chemotherapy with or without an immune checkpoint inhibitor but well to radiotherapy. Finally, the patient achieved approximately 17 months of overall survival. To the best of our knowledge, this case report is the first to describe a remarkable response to local radiotherapy in a patient with a refractory metastatic mediastinal YST involving a DDR-gene mutation (germline BRCA2 frameshift variation). This case report provides insightful clues for precision radiotherapy in clinical practice.

Yolk Sac Tumor in the Anterior Mediastinum Presenting as Acute Pericarditis

BACKGROUND Mediastinal masses can originate from anatomical structures normally located in the mediastinum, or from structures that travel through the mediastinum during embryogenesis. Initial presenting symptoms usually vary from shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, and superior vena cava syndrome to nonspecific constitutional symptoms (eg, fever, weight loss, fatigue). However, the initial presentation of a mediastinal mass with acute pericarditis has not been reported in the literature as far as we know. CASE REPORT A 20-year-old man presented to the Cardiology Clinic with chest pain and new pericardial effusion on echocardiography, both fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of acute pericarditis. The patient also had venous engorgement on the neck, and a chest X-ray followed by computed tomography imaging showed a large mediastinal mass. The serum tumor marker a-fetoprotein (AFP) was markedly elevated. The biopsy and immunohistochemistry revealed a high-grade malignant neoplasm - yolk sac tumor, which is a type of non-seminomatous germ cell tumor. The acute pericarditis resolved after administration of NSAID and colchicine. The patient was then started on chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The discussed case shows the rare presentation of an anterior mediastinal mass with acute pericarditis. This emphasizes the importance of a thorough review of systems and critical analysis of every sign and symptom at the time of initial presentation, which helps the physician to obtain appropriate imaging studies early in the course, leading to an early diagnosis and treatment of the disease, such as in this case of an extremely rare germ cell tumor.

Multimodal imaging changed clinical decision-making: A rare mediastinal yolk sac tumor infiltrating the heart and follow-up

BACKGROUND

Primary yolk sac tumor of the mediastinum is an extremely rare and highly malignant neoplasm, affecting mainly young men.

METHOD AND RESULT

This case report describes a 60-year-old man with a mediastinal yolk sac tumor and infiltrating the heart. A large mobile mass was found in the right atrium by transthoracic echocardiography, and myxoma was suspected. However, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography imaging revealed a remarkable enhancement in the mass. Highly metabolized mass was not only found in the right atrium, also in superior vena cava and right superior mediastinum by whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Supraclavicular lymph node biopsy confirmed the tumor as a primary mediastinum yolk sac. The tumor started to shrink during chemotherapy and AFP levels decreased. This patient significantly benefited from the chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Multimodal imaging plays a vital role in the diagnostic workup and management for cardiac mass.

Incidentally discovered primary mediastinal germ cell tumor

Most germ cell tumors arise from the testicles and often are self-diagnosed. Extragonadal germ cell tumors are rare and vary greatly in their clinical presentations. This case report describes a 24-year-old man with an unusual presentation for an extragonadal germ cell tumor.

Primary mediastinal yolk sac tumor: a case report and literature review

Primary mediastinal yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are rare and have a high degree of malignancy. This article reports a 42-year-old man with a primary mediastinal YST. The patient presented with chest tightness and shortness of breath. Using a contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) scan, the mediastinal space was found to be occupied by a mass shadow, about 10 cm × 8 cm with a clear boundary and low density. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was elevated to 7169.66 ng/ml. The 5th day after hospitalization, a percutaneous biopsy of the mediastinal mass was performed. Malignant tumor cells were found by cytologic examination. According to the pathological morphology and immunohistochemical results, the tumor was diagnosed as primary mediastinal YST. Subsequently, the patient underwent five cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy including bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) and surgical tumor removal. One month after operation, AFP was elevated to 252.96 ng/ml. CT examination showed that the tumor recurred. As of September 12, 2020, the patient has undergone four cycles of VIP (etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin) chemotherapy after relapse, and the patient's condition is currently in partial remission.