An endodermal sinus tumor arising from a mature cystic teratoma in the retroperitoneum in a child: is a mature teratoma a premalignant condition?

Hum Pathol. 1998 Oct;29(10):1167-9. doi: 10.1016/s0046-8177(98)90432-4.

Abstract

We herein report an 18-month-old girl who presented with a retroperitoneal mature teratoma that later developed into an endodermal sinus tumor. Her symptoms included an expanding abdominal girth. The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein were moderately elevated. The excised specimen was a benign mature cystic retroperitoneal teratoma measuring 18 x 11 x 8 cm in size. A hemorrhagic focus measuring 4 cm in diameter was present, which proved to be the focus of an endodermal sinus tumor histologically. The retroperitoneal mature teratoma observed in this case showed malignant germ-cell differentiation. The above case is thought to be extremely rare, but these findings also suggest the possibility of a mature teratoma presenting as a premalignant condition. The sequence of "mature teratoma--germ-cell malignancy" is thus considered to represent a new potential pattern of early phase of carcinogenesis in teratomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / blood
  • Cysts / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endodermal Sinus Tumor / diagnosis
  • Endodermal Sinus Tumor / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Precancerous Conditions / diagnosis
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology*
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Teratoma / diagnosis
  • Teratoma / pathology*
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • alpha-Fetoproteins