Yolk Sac Tumor in the Anterior Mediastinum with the Presentation of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Abstract

We report a 37-year-old woman with an anterior mediastinal yolk sac tumor with the initial presentation of superior vena cava syndrome. This patient complained of swelling on the right face and neck for 2 weeks. The chest radiographic examinations showed a widening of the mediastinurn. The chest computed tomography showed an anterior mediastinal mass. The needle biopsy revealed the picture of a yolk sac tumor, which is one pathologic type of nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. The symptoms and signs of superior vena cava syndrome disappeared after one course of chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin. We also review the literature regarding superior vena cava syndrome and mediastinal germ cell tumor.