Primary yolk sac tumor of the endometrium combined with total visceral inversion: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Abstract Background Yolk sac tumor (YST) is a highly malignant germ cell tumor, a majority of which originate from the gonads and is extremely rare from endometrium. Case presentation Here we present a case of a 42-year-old woman suffered from primary pure yolk sac tumor of endometrium complicated with total visceral inversion. The patient presented at our hospital with irregular vaginal bleeding, imageological examination showed a space-occupying lesion in the cervix and serum Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was significantly high (more than 1210ng/ml). Then she underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Subsequent postoperative pathological diagnosis was yolk sac tumor arising from endometrium. Next, the patient was treated with 6 cycles of chemotherapy with Pingyangmycin, etoposide and cisplatin regimen and was alive without evidence of recurrence or distant metastases for 13 months. Conclusions This rare disease needs to be differentiated from endometrial epithelial neoplasia and the significant increase in AFP is helpful for diagnosis. Combined with previous literature reports, comprehensive staging laparotomy or maximum cytoreductive surgery complemented by standard chemotherapy can usually achieve a good efficacy.