Yolk Sac Carcinoma of the Testis in Children

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Abstract
We reviewed the records of 11 patients with yolk sac carcinoma of the testis seen at the Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA] from 1971 through 1983. Each child was less than 2 years old at diagnosis, and each had stage I disease (localized to the testicle). Initial management consisted of radical inguinal orchiectomy in all 11 patients. Four patients then underwent retroperitoneal node dissection and none had pathological evidence of retroperitoneal tumor spread. After primary surgical management 5 patients received no further initial treatment. Of these 5 patients 3 are alive with no evidence of disease at 1.5, 2.7 and 4.5 years after diagnosis. The tumor recurred in 2 patients, 1 of whom was salvaged with pulmonary radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The other 6 patients received chemotherapy postoperatively and only 1 has suffered relapse. Over-all, of 3 patients in whom pulmonary metastases developed 1 died of tumor and 1 died of treatment-related pneumonopathy. Our experience and that of others have led us to conclude that patients with localized disease and normal postoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein levels do not benefit from retroperitoneal node dissection, postoperative abdominal irradiation or chemotherapy. Patients with retroperitoneal nodal involvement, widely metastatic disease or recurrent disease can be treated successfully with chemotherapy and in some cases with radiation therapy.