Vaginal Yolk Sac Tumor: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

ObjectiveTo report diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of vaginal yolk sac tumor (YST) cases at a single institution and review literature on vaginal YST to outline advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and survival.DesignRetrospective chart review of female patients less than 21 years of age with pathologic diagnosis of vaginal YST treated at a large children's hospital, and summary of a 100-year review of the literature on vaginal yolk sac tumor.SettingChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta, a tertiary center in Atlanta, GA.ParticipantsFemale patients less than 21 years of age diagnosed with vaginal YST.ResultsTwo cases of vaginal YST at our institution are outlined. Both patients presented within the first 2 years of life with vaginal bleeding and were treated successfully with chemotherapy alone. After review of the literature, 137 cases of vaginal YST were found. The mean age at diagnosis was 11 months, and all patients presented with vaginal bleeding. Before 2000, more radical treatments were pursued, and 40% resulted in death. Since the year 2000, treatment has shifted toward chemotherapy and more conservative surgical management, with 51% of vaginal YST cases treated with chemotherapy alone with 92% of patients alive at time of publication.ConclusionOur cases contribute to the limited literature demonstrating the efficacy of conservative management of rare cases of vaginal YST with chemotherapy alone. This case series and review of the literature provide mounting evidence that vaginal YST should be in the differential diagnosis in young girls with vaginal tumors, and conservative management of vaginal YST has excellent outcomes.