A case of mediastinal yolk sac tumor successfully treated with chemotherapy and surgery

A 28-year-old man was admitted due to increasing respiratory symptoms. X-ray examination of the chest showed a tumor mass in the anterior mediastinum with possible invasion into the chest wall and upper lobe of right lung. No tumor was found in the testis. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration was 6400 ng/ml. Serum levels of CEA and HCG were within normal limits. Percutaneous biopsy of the tumor strongly suggested yolk sac tumor with an evidence of AFP by an immunoenzyme labelling technique. The serum AFP rapidly decreased after two courses of combination chemotherapy. En bloc resection of the tumor was successfully performed and third chemotherapy was added. Mediastinal yolk sac tumors should be treated with combination chemotherapy and surgical resection.