title: Radiological-pathological correlation of yolk sac tumor in 20 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Yolk sac tumor (YST) is a rare tumor. Familiarity of its radiological characteristics may permit preoperative diagnosis and improve surgical management of patients. However, a detailed description of the imaging features of YST with pathological correlation in particular is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate computed tomography (CT) findings of YSTs with pathological correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT images of 20 patients with pathologically proven YST were retrospectively reviewed. The location, size, margin, internal architecture, and pattern and degree enhancement of the lesion were evaluated. Radiological findings were correlated with pathological results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The locations of 20 tumors were distributed between the testis (n = 3), ovary (n = 6), sacrococcygeal area (n = 6), rectum (n = 1), and mediastinum (n = 4). The median age was 13 years. On CT images, all tumors were seen as oval (n = 14) or irregular (n = 6), well-defined (n = 16) or ill-defined (n = 4) masses with a mean size of 9.7 cm. The lesions were solid cystic (n = 10), entirely solid (n = 6), or predominantly cystic (n = 4). Intratumoral hemorrhage, calcification, and fatty tissue were seen in nine, three, and two tumors, respectively. Discontinuity of the tumor wall was seen in eight tumors. After contrast media administration, most tumors showed heterogeneous moderate to marked enhancement (n = 7) or heterogeneous marked enhancement (n = 9). Enlarged intratumoral vessels were seen in 17 tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  YST usually appears as a large solid-cystic mass with intratumoral hemorrhage, capsular tear, marked heterogeneous enhancement, and enlarged intratumoral vessels on CT images. Intratumoral calcification and fatty tissue, although rare, may indicate a mixed YST containing teratoma component.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China liyangkang@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: YangKang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China.
authors.forename: JianBang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Intervening Center, Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: GuiXiao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cancer Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China.
authors.forename: AiQun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, the Second affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China.
authors.forename: RuoWei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China.
authors.forename: MingYao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide
keywords: Yolk sac tumor; computed tomography (CT); pathology; radiology