Recurrent Ovarian Yolk Sac Tumor in an 11-Year Old Girl – Case Report

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is responsible for 1-2% of all childhood malignancies, in children up to 85% of ovarian malignancies are histologically found to be germ cell tumors. Yolk sac tumors are the second most common subtype of germ cell tumors, they are aggressive rapidly growing and with frequent metastasis to other organs, and associated with elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein. We present the case of an 11-year-old girl that was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain, and a large abdominal tumor that occupied the whole hypogastric region of the abdomen. MRI showed a right ovarian tumor; tumor markers were obtained prior to surgery. Histological diagnosis of ovarian Yolk Sac Tumor was made and the patient was scheduled for chemotherapy. The patient and family interrupted all medical treatment and follow-up, presenting 5 months later, with recurrence on the contralateral ovary. Even if the ovarian yolk sac tumor has a good survival rate, the delay in starting chemotherapy and lack of compliance to treatment can give it a poor prognosis, and lead to recurrence or metastasis.