Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Sains Malaysia School of Medicine, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2019 Sep;57(3):157-160.
PMID: 31620699 DOI: 10.5152/tao.2019.3900

Abstract

Paediatric germ cell tumor is composed of various neoplasms which exhibit capricious clinical presentation and histological features depending on the age and the area of presentation. Yolk sac tumor is an extremely rare malignant tumor of embryonic origin which usually arises from the gonads. Its manifestation in the head and neck region is extremely rare. Here, we report a rare case of the malignant transformation of mature teratoma into yolk sac tumor of the neck in an infant. Diagnosis was confirmed following histopathological examination of the neck mass along with marked increase of the serum alpha-fetoprotein. The child unfortunately succumbed prior to chemotherapy. We highlight the challenge we faced in diagnosing and managing this rare entity. We would also like to recommend serial monitoring of serum alpha-fetoprotein in all patients with mature teratoma to detect malignant transformation early.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.