An ovarian yolk sac tumour arising in a 50-year-old female: a case report

Abstract

Ovarian yolk sac tumour is a rare germ cell malignancy usually seen in females under 30 years but rarely reported in post-menopausal women in association with epithelial neoplasms. This case study reports a 50-year-old patient with a yolk sac tumour arising from an ovarian surface epithelial tumour favoured to represent clear cell carcinoma. Benign epithelial elements were also present. The co-existence with an ovarian surface epithelial tumour hints at a different histogenesis of yolk sac tumour in older patients compared with younger patients with histologically pure neoplasms and though the pathway remains unknown, multiple theories exist. These tumours often represent a diagnostic challenge in older patients. Recognition of this rare entity is important as the prognosis is poorer than for epithelial neoplasms without a yolk sac component and because the chemotherapeutic treatment is different.