Metastatic spinal cord compression of testicular yolk sac tumor.
BACKGROUND
Pediatric testicular tumors are rare. Spinal metastasis of testicular yolk sac tumor (YST) is extremely rare, with only one reported case.


METHODS
We report a rare case of metastatic spinal cord compression of testicular YST in a 14-month-old boy who presented with progressive paraparesis and neurological bladder dysfunction. Two months prior to admission, he underwent a left radical orchiectomy for YST of the testis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe spinal cord compression by the ventral epidural mass from T-9 to T-11 and at S-3. Emergency surgical resection was performed for tissue diagnosis and spinal decompression. Histopathological features of the epidural mass indicated metastasis of the testicular YST.


CONCLUSIONS
Although spinal involvement with metastatic YST is rare, it must be considered in children with testicular YST exhibiting evidence of pain or weakness, and surgical decompression followed by adjuvant chemotherapy should not be delayed.
Lee
Jung-Kil
JK
Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Hospital and Medical School, 8 Hak-dong, Dong-ku, Gwangju, 501-757, South Korea. jklee@cnuh.chonnam.ac.kr
Kim
Soo-Han
SH
Kim
Jae-Hyoo
JH
Kim
In-Young
IY
Kim
Tae-Sun
TS
Jung
Shin
S
Kang
Sam-Suk
SS
Lee
Je-Hyuk
JH
Lee
Min-Cheol
MC
D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D004824:Epidural Space; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery