A sinonasal yolk sac tumor in an adult

• Published in: Journal of pathology and translational medicine Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 152 - 156
• Main Authors: Shin, Jaehoon, Kim, Ji Heui, Jung, Kyeong Cheon, Cho, Kyung-Ja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society of Pathologists, Korean Society for Cytopathology 01.05.2022; The Korean Society of Pathologists/The Korean Society for Cytopathology; Korean Society of Pathologists & the Korean Society for Cytopathology; 대한병리학회
• Subjects: adult; Biopsy; Cancer; Case Study; Chemotherapy; endodermal sinus tumor; Endoscopy; nasal cavity; Otolaryngology; paranasal sinus; Sinuses; Tumors; yolk sac tumor; 병리학; Endodermal sinus tumor; Adult; Nasal cavity; Paranasal sinus; Yolk sac tumor
• ISSN: 2383-7837; 2383-7845
• DOI: 10.4132/jptm.2021.12.09

Yolk sac tumors (YSTs), which are also called endodermal sinus tumors, are malignant tumors of germ cell origin. These tumors usually occur in the gonads, but 20% of cases have been reported at extragonadal sites. The head and neck is a rarely affected region that accounts for just 1% of all malignant tumors of germ cell origin. In addition, YSTs arise mostly in childhood. We present a rare pathologically pure case of primary adult YST in the sinonasal area. A 45-year-old male patient presented with a rapidly growing mass in the nasal cavity, which caused nasal obstruction and bloody post-nasal drip. The histopathologic features indicated pure YST, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed positive reactivity for Sal-like protein 4 and alpha-fetoprotein. Herein, we discuss the clinical, radiologic, and histologic features of this YST and review other cases of sinonasal YST in adults.