Pineal yolk sac tumor
Updates to Article Attributes
Pineal yolk sac tumours are rare type of extragonadal yolk sac tumours. They make up a small fraction of all intracranial germ cell tumours and an even small fraction of pineal masses overall. See Intracranial yolk sac tumours for detail.
CSF biochemistry may demonstrate elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) which is helpful but not diagnostic of yolk sac tumours, as both immature teratomas and embryonal cell carcinomas may also elevate AFP levels 1.
Epidemiology
Associations
As with other germ cell tumours, there may be an association with Down syndrome 1-3.
Pathology
In up to 50% of cases these tumours co-exist with other germ cell tumour histology 4.
Radiographic features
No specific imaging findings have been identified, with their appearance being similar to other germ cell tumours of the pineal region 4.
-<p><strong>Pineal yolk sac tumours</strong> are rare type of extragonadal yolk sac tumours. They make up a small fraction of all <a href="/articles/intracranial-germ-cell-tumours">intracranial germ cell tumours</a> and an even small fraction of <a href="/articles/pineal-region-mass">pineal masses</a> overall.</p><p>CSF biochemistry may demonstrate elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) which is helpful but not diagnostic of yolk sac tumours, as both immature teratomas and embryonal cell carcinomas may also elevate AFP levels <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><h5>Associations</h5><p>As with other germ cell tumours, there may be an association with <a href="/articles/down-syndrome">Down syndrome</a> <sup>1-3</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>In up to 50% of cases these tumours co-exist with other germ cell tumour histology <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>No specific imaging findings have been identified, with their appearance being similar to other germ cell tumours of the pineal region <sup>4</sup>.</p>- +<p><strong>Pineal yolk sac tumours</strong> are rare type of extragonadal yolk sac tumours. They make up a small fraction of all <a href="/articles/intracranial-germ-cell-tumours">intracranial germ cell tumours</a> and an even small fraction of <a href="/articles/pineal-region-mass">pineal masses</a> overall. See <a title="Intracranial yolk sac tumour" href="/articles/intracranial-yolk-sac-tumour">Intracranial yolk sac tumours </a>for detail.</p><p>CSF biochemistry may demonstrate elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) which is helpful but not diagnostic of yolk sac tumours, as both immature teratomas and embryonal cell carcinomas may also elevate AFP levels <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><h5>Associations</h5><p>As with other germ cell tumours, there may be an association with <a href="/articles/down-syndrome">Down syndrome</a> <sup>1-3</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>In up to 50% of cases these tumours co-exist with other germ cell tumour histology <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>No specific imaging findings have been identified, with their appearance being similar to other germ cell tumours of the pineal region <sup>4</sup>.</p>
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