Mixed Germ Cell Tumour in a 58-Year-Old Post-menopausal Woman: A Case Report

Mixed germ cell tumours (GCTs) are a rare pathology, particularly those comprising yolk sac tumour (YST) and mature cystic teratomas. Although one important biomarker for YSTs is alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is often characteristically elevated, this may not be the case in a minority of cases. Additionally, AFP is not usually elevated in mixed GCTs, more so in cases involving mature cystic teratoma, even with YST as a component of the tumour, as seen in the index patient who had a normal AFB value of 5 ng/mL (normal: 0-10 ng/mL). Furthermore, in postmenopausal women with stage 1 mixed GCTs, the preferred treatment is non-fertility-sparing surgery without chemotherapy. Despite the generally poor prognosis for GCTs in this demographic, early detection and treatment can lead to favourable outcomes. This report details a case of a 58-year-old woman with a stage 1 mixed GCT who underwent extensive surgery without chemotherapy and has remained tumour-free for 24 months, attributing her good prognosis to the low stage and early intervention, along with the YST component.