Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Weerakkody Y, Baba Y, et al. Pineal yolk sac tumour. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6613
Pineal yolk sac tumours are rare type of extragonadal yolk sac tumours. They make up a small fraction of all intracranial germ cell tumours and an even small fraction of pineal masses overall.
CSF biochemistry may demonstrate elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) which is helpful but not diagnostic of yolk sac tumours, as both immature teratomas and embryonal cell carcinomas may also elevate AFP levels 1.
Associations
As with other germ cell tumours, there may be an association with Down syndrome 1-3.
In up to 50% of cases these tumours co-exist with other germ cell tumour histology 4.
No specific imaging findings have been identified, with their appearance being similar to other germ cell tumours of the pineal region 4.
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1. Tan HW, Ty A, Goh SG, Wong MC, Hong A, Chuah KL. Pineal yolk sac tumour with a solid pattern: a case report in a Chinese adult man with Down's syndrome. (2004) Journal of clinical pathology. 57 (8): 882-4. doi:10.1136/jcp.2004.016659 - Pubmed
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2. Nakashima T, Nishimura Y, Sakai N, Yamada H, Hara A. Germinoma in cerebral hemisphere associated with Down syndrome. (1997) Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery. 13 (10): 563-6. doi:10.1007/s003810050139 - Pubmed
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3. Chik K, Li C, Shing MM, Leung T, Yuen PM. Intracranial germ cell tumors in children with and without Down syndrome. (1999) Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology. 21 (2): 149-51. Pubmed
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4. Smirniotopoulos JG, Rushing EJ, Mena H. Pineal region masses: differential diagnosis. (1992) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 12 (3): 577-96. doi:10.1148/radiographics.12.3.1609147 - Pubmed
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