Yolk Sac Tumor : Treatment & Prognosis

Comments:
Treatment & Prognosis: The treatment of pure yolk sac tumor (seen in younger patients) consists of conservative surgery (oophorectomy) followed by cisplatin-based multiagent chemotherapy. The most important prognostic indicator is clinical stage. Almost one-third of patients have extraovarian spread at the time of diagnosis. The involved sites include peritoneum, pelvic lymph nodes, abdominal viscera, and lungs.

Five-year survival rates are as follows: Stage I-II >95%, Stage III 70%, and Stage IV 50%. Long-term follow-up is necessary as the tumor can recur many years after surgery. Serum AFP levels can help detect early recurrences. YSTs arising in adults have much worse prognosis due to their association with somatic ovarian epithelial malignancy (serous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, or carcinosarcoma).