Spinal cord compression of primary extragonadal giant yolk sac tumor


Guzel A., Tatli M., BELEN A. D., Seckin H.

Spinal Cord, cilt.45, sa.3, ss.254-257, 2007 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 45 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2007
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1038/sj.sc.3101942
  • Dergi Adı: Spinal Cord
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.254-257
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: adult, lumbar column, paraparesis, primary yolk sac tumor
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Study design: Case report. Objective: To report an adult male patient with a primary extragonadal giant yolk sac tumor presenting with acute spinal cord compression. Setting: Faculty of Medicine, University of Dicle, Diyarbakir, Turkey. Method: A 31-year-old man was referred to our department with a diagnosis of Pott's disease, a complaint of back pain and gait difficulty for 2 weeks. Neurological examination showed spastic paraparesis and hypoesthesia below the L2 dermatome level. He also had urinary incontinence. Abdominal computed tomography and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging study revealed a giant cystic mass lesion located in the psoas muscle. Posteriorly, the third lumbar vertebral body was destructed and the tumor was compressing the dural sac. A combined anterior and posterior approach was performed. Pathological diagnosis was a yolk sac tumor. Result: His neurological status improved during the postoperative course. A chemotherapy protocol was given including bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin. Five months after the last chemotherapy, he was brought to the emergency unit in sepsis and died despite antibiotherapy. Conclusion: Yolk sac tumor should be considered in young adult male patients presenting with acute paraparesis even without any signs or medical history of a testis tumor. These tumors may be unresectable; however, decompression of neural structures and stabilization of the spine with instrumentation may cause substantial improvement in neurological deficit and pain relief. © 2007 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.