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Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc

Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc

Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc

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Differential diagnoses<br />

Differential diagnoses include, among the<br />

germ cell tumours, seminoma, solid type<br />

of yolk sac tumour, and choriocarcinoma.<br />

Among other tumours anaplastic large<br />

cell lymphoma, malignant Sertoli cell<br />

tumour and metastases are considerations.<br />

The age of the patient, microscopic<br />

examination of representative sections<br />

from the tumour including all growth patterns,<br />

and a small panel of immunohistochemical<br />

stains yields the correct<br />

diagnosis in the majority of the cases.<br />

Fig. 4.30 Embryonal carcinoma. Transverse ultrasound<br />

image of the testis (cursors) shows an ill<br />

defined, irregular, heterogeneous mass (arrows).<br />

ing abnormal forms. Syncytiotrophoblastic<br />

cells may occur scattered among<br />

the tumour cells as single cells or in small<br />

cell groups. Cells at the periphery of the<br />

solid tumour formations may appear<br />

degenerated, smudged or apoptotic<br />

resulting in a biphasic pattern that may<br />

mimic choriocarcinoma.<br />

The stroma that varies from scant within<br />

the solid formations, to more abundant at<br />

the periphery of the tumour is usual<br />

fibrous, more or less cellular and with or<br />

without lymphocytic infiltration. Eosinophils<br />

are rarely present as is granulomatous<br />

reaction.<br />

In the adjacent testicular tissue intratubular<br />

embryonal carcinoma is often present,<br />

and is often more or less necrotic,<br />

and sometimes calcified. In the surrounding<br />

tissue vascular and lymphatic<br />

invasion are also common and should be<br />

carefully distinguished from the intratubular<br />

occurrence and from artificial<br />

implantation of tumour cells into vascular<br />

spaces during handling of the specimen.<br />

Loose, "floating" tumour cells in vascular<br />

spaces, usually associated with surface<br />

implants of similar cells should be considered<br />

artefactual.<br />

Fig. 4.31 Embryonal carcinoma. The tumour is<br />

fleshy and has foci of haemorrhage and necrosis.<br />

Immunoprofile<br />

Embryonal carcinoma contains a number<br />

of immunohistochemical markers reflecting<br />

embryonic histogenesis but the<br />

majority have hitherto not been very useful<br />

diagnostically. CD30 can be demonstrated<br />

in many cases {2202}.<br />

Cytokeratins of various classes are present<br />

while epithelial membrane antigen<br />

(EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen<br />

(CEA) and vimentin can usually not be<br />

demonstrated {1894}. Placental alkaline<br />

phosphatase (PLAP) occurs focally as a<br />

membranous and/or cytoplasmic staining<br />

{1615}. Many embryonal carcinomas<br />

are strongly positive for TP53 in up to<br />

50% of the tumour cells {2667}. AFP may<br />

occur in scattered cells {1196,1198}.<br />

Human placental lactogen (HPL) is occasionally<br />

found focally in the tumour cells<br />

{1198,1807}. HCG occurs in the syncytiotrophoblastic<br />

cells, which may be<br />

present in the tumour, but not in the<br />

embryonal carcinoma cells and the same<br />

applies to pregnancy specific ß 1<br />

glycoprotein<br />

(SP1) {1807}.<br />

Ultrastructure<br />

Ultrastructural examinations have not<br />

proven to be diagnostically useful<br />

although it may differentiate embryonal<br />

carcinoma from seminoma and glandular<br />

like pattern of embryonal carcinoma from<br />

somatic type adenocarcinomas.<br />

Prognosis<br />

The most important prognostic factor is<br />

clinical tumour stage. In general, the<br />

tumour spread is lymphatic, first to the<br />

retroperitoneal lymph nodes and subsequently<br />

to the mediastinum. Haematogeneous<br />

spread to the lung may also be<br />

seen. Patients with pure embryonal carcinoma<br />

and with vascular invasion tend<br />

to have higher stage disease {1200}. This<br />

is emphasized by studies defining high<br />

risk patients as those with pure embryonal<br />

carcinoma, predominant embryonal<br />

carcinoma, embryonal carcinoma unassociated<br />

with teratoma, and/or<br />

tumours with vascular/lymphatic invasion<br />

and advanced local stage {1803,1817}.<br />

Yolk sac tumour<br />

Definition<br />

A tumour characterized by numerous patterns<br />

that recapitulate the yolk sac, allantois<br />

and extra embryonic mesenchyme.<br />

ICD-O code 9071/3<br />

Synonym<br />

Endodermal sinus tumour, orchioblastoma.<br />

Epidemiology<br />

In the testis yolk sac tumour (YST) is<br />

seen in two distinct age groups, infants<br />

and young children and postpubertal<br />

males. In children, it is the most common<br />

testicular neoplasm {1274} and occurs in<br />

all races. It is less common in Blacks,<br />

Native Americans, and in Indians {490,<br />

A<br />

Fig. 4.32 Embryonal carcinoma. A Positive staining for CD30 in embryonal carcinoma. B Positive staining for<br />

AFP in scattered cells of embryonal carcinoma.<br />

B<br />

Germ cell tumours 237

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