Intracranial and intraspinal dissemination from pineal yolk sac tumor treated by PVB therapy--case report

A 15-year-old male was admitted because of diplopia and persistent headache. Postcontrast computed tomography (CT) revealed a homogeneously enhanced large mass, 3 x 4 cm in size, in the pineal region and moderate obstructive hydrocephalus. A right ventriculoperitoneal shunt was installed. At that time, the serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level increased to 23,036 ng/ml, but the level of serum beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin was less than 0.2 ng/ml. These data indicated the tumor to be a pure yolk sac tumor. Following cisplatin-vinblastine-bleomycin (PVB) therapy and whole-brain irradiation (50 Gy), the tumor disappeared on CT, although the AFP level did not return to normal. Eight months after the completion of initial therapy, he had lumbago. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a metastatic mass at the L5-S2 levels, which was subtotally removed and histologically diagnosed as yolk sac tumor. Postoperative local irradiation (30 Gy) was performed. Seven months after the operation, spinal dissemination at the Th7 level occurred and, 1 month later, intracranial dissemination in the left cerebellopontine angle was detected. He died 25 months after the first admission. PVB therapy did not prevent spinal dissemination in this case.