title: Yolk sac tumor of the anterior mediastinum: the role of palliative surgery.
abstract: Primary endodermal sinus tumor (yolk sac tumor) of the mediastinum is a very rare extragonadal germ-cell neoplasm. Most patients are young and male. Since initial description of the endodermal sinus tumor in 1959, this neoplasm has been found more and more frequently. alpha-Fetoprotein is an important tumor marker. The treatment consists of multimodal therapy. A combined approach with chemotherapy followed by surgical resection of residual tumor seems to be the optimal management of this tumor. Even a palliative surgical resection in advanced tumors is indicated. We describe the case of a patient with an advanced yolk sac tumor that was refractory to chemotherapy. This patient was treated by palliative surgical resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal, Thorax and Vascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mönig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krug
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010166:Palliative Care; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed