Yolk sac tumor arising from the diaphragm: our case and review of reported cases of this disease

Abstract

Diaphragmatic primary yolk sac tumor is an extremely rare disease. Since we experienced treating the case of an 11-month-old boy, we report it along with literature considerations. The initial symptoms of this disease are often chest-related symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, rapid breathing and pleural effusion. For the diagnosis of this disease, coronary MR images, sagittal images and 3D-CT images are useful. In the treatment of this disease, it is important to perform preoperative chemotherapy including platinum preparations to shrink the tumor followed by its complete surgical removal. Similarly in our patient, it developed primarily with chest symptoms such as coughing and pleural effusion, and was diagnosed as primary tumor of the diaphragm based on coronary MR images and sagittal images. After the histopathological diagnosis of yolk sac tumor, preoperative chemotherapy with a platinum preparation (cisplatin) was performed, and the tumor was completely excised after its shrinkage. Fifteen years have passed since the completion of the whole course of chemotherapy, and the patient has shown no recurrence of the disease or side effects of the chemotherapy.