Abstract
Three cases of primary mediastinal yolk sac minors with prominent spindle cell features are presented. The patients were three men 24-34 years of age (mean 29). Clinically, two patients presented with symptoms of chest pain and cough; no clinical information was provided for the third patient. Grossly, the tumors were described as large mediastinal masses, with a hemorrhagic and necrotic cut surface. Histologically, the tumors were characterized by a predominantly atypical spindle cell proliferation admixed with areas that showed focally the characteristic reticular growth pattern of yolk sac tumors, with the presence of Schiller-Duval bodies and intra- and extracellular hyaline globules. Immunohistochemical studies performed in one case showed positive staining for keratin and alpha-fetoprotein in both the spindle cell and reticular components of the tumor. Follow-up information was obtained in two patients: they both died of tumor with metastases to the lungs 1 year after initial diagnosis. The present cases expand the spectrum of histopathologic growth patterns that may be observed in yolk sac tumors of the mediastinum and stress the issue of careful sampling and evaluation of mediastinal neoplasms for arriving at the correct diagnosis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1173-1177 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | American Journal of Surgical Pathology |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Germ cell tumors
- Mediastinum
- Spindle cell tumors
- Yolk sac tumors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anatomy
- Surgery
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine