Mediastinal Yolk Sac Tumor Producing Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence or Antagonist-II

Intern Med. 2015;54(12):1531-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.4025. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

Abstract

Extragonadal yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are rare. We herein report the case of a 66-year-old man with mediastinal, lung and liver tumors. The largest mass was located in the liver and contained a high concentration of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) and alpha-fetoprotein. Therefore, the lesion was difficult to distinguish from hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, YST was diagnosed based on the results of a liver biopsy. Although chemotherapy was effective, the patient died of respiratory failure. The autopsy revealed primary mediastinal YST. In the current report, we describe this case of PIVKA-II-producing YST and review previous cases of PIVKA-II-producing tumors other than hepatoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autopsy
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endodermal Sinus Tumor / chemistry
  • Endodermal Sinus Tumor / diagnosis*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Protein Precursors / analysis*
  • Prothrombin / analysis*
  • Vitamin K / analysis*
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Protein Precursors
  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • Vitamin K
  • acarboxyprothrombin
  • Prothrombin