SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF AN ENDODERMAL SINUS TUMOR OF THE VAGINA BY CHEMOTHERAPY ALONE: A Rare Case of an Infant Diagnosed by Pathological Examination of Discharged Tumor Fragment

Abstract

A 7-month-old infant was noted to have vaginal bleeding that was accompanied by a discharged tumor fragment. The histological diagnosis was endodermal sinus tumor. Her serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) was increased to 358.7 ng/mL, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a 1.8 × 1.0 cm tumor in the vagina. She received combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin, carboplatin, and etoposide. The tumor in the images disappeared and the serum level of AFP returned to the normal range after 2 cycles. Treatment was complete without surgical or radiological therapy. More than 45 months after the completion of chemotherapy, she is alive without signs of recurrence.

Keywords:

• delayed primary operation
• discharged tumor fragment
• endodermal sinus tumor
• infant
• vagina