Yolk sac tumor of vagina: a rare cause of vaginal bleeding in adolescents-a case report

Abstract

Yolk sac tumor (YST) is one of the malignant germ-cell tumors (MGCT) that usually occurs in the ovaries and testes of young patients. Its occurrence in the vagina is extremely rare. We present a rare case of extragonadal YST occurring in the vaginal region. A 12-year-old girl, presented with vaginal bleeding and pain in the perineal region. Physical exam identified a limited pelvic mass, 5 x 4cm in size. Abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a heterogeneous mass in cervico-vaginal region. The patient was taken to the surgery, where an excisional biopsy was obtained. The diagnosis of YST is confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry studies. However, the tumor marker (alpha foetoprotein and BHCG) was normal. The patient was treated according to the French TGM-95 protocol. Surgery was done after chemotherapy, hysterectomy in front of the cervical invasion, with a good decline at 2 years of end of treatment.

Keywords

• vaginal bleeding
• child
• yolk sac tumor
• serum alpha foetoprotein negative