Paediatric ImagingYolk cell tumour
(also called endodermal
sinus tumour), a derivative of the primordial germ cell. Being multi-potential, this cell may give rise to a variety of structures that may be embryonic or extra-embryonic. The extra-embryonic tumours are divided into yolk sac
tumour or choriocarcinoma. It is the commonest type of germ cell
tumour in children and is found in 10 - 20% of sacrococcygeal teratomas. It is also found in the ovary (
Fig.1) and testes, and much less commonly in the
mediastinum, pineal region, retroperitoneum and vagina. There is usually a raised alphafetoprotein. On imaging there are non-specific appearances and it appears as a space-occupying
lesion in those various sites. See
sacrococcygeal teratoma and
testicular teratomaAD
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a. Abdominal radiograph of a girl aged 7 who presented with abdominal swelling. There is a paucity of bowel gas centrally within the abdomen, due to the large tumour. b. CT examination shows a huge tumour with mixed attenuation due to large areas of central necrosis. The tumour is displacing the bowel around it. The diagnosis was a malignant germ cell tumour.
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Yolk cell tumour, Fig.1 (a) | | Yolk cell tumour, Fig.1 (b) | |