Primary Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumor of the Prostate

Abstract

We describe a case of a primary nonseminomatous germ cell prostatic tumor and discuss the problem of extragonadal germ cell tumors. Prognosis, staging and management of these tumors are similar to that of metastatic primary testicular germ cell tumors.

Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor Invading the Prostate

“…A germ cell tumor in the prostate is exceedingly rare; previous to this paper only 3 cases have been reported [1,2]. The choice of therapy consisted of chemotherapy alone or in combination with mutilating surgery.…”

“…They have also been described in the bladder, stomach, ovarium, omentum, lungs, the thymus and in the prostate With regard to the prostatic localization, they are primary extra gonadal tumors or métastasés of an extinguished testicular tumor The histological classification and treatment of extragonadal germ cell tumors or primarily metastasized testicular tumors are the same [1,[3][4][5]. Munro [11] reported disappointing results in the treatment of extragonadal germ cell tumors.…”

“…The occurrence of a primary germ cell tumor in the prostate is exceptional, and only 3 cases have been described until now [1,2]. Therapy in 2 of these cases was unsuccessful; in the third the patient survived only after mutilating surgery [1,2].…”

“…Therapy in 2 of these cases was unsuccessful; in the third the patient survived only after mutilating surgery [1,2]. We report on a patient with an extragonadal germ cell tumor arising in the retroperitoneum and invading the prostate, who was treated by systemic chemother apy, followed by radical nonmutilating surgical resection.…”

Primary Yolk Sac Tumor of the Prostate: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…The literature outlines two hypotheses for the possible etiology of extragonadal ESTs. One hypothesis suggests that pluripotent stem cells left over from development may transform into neoplastic germ cells [6][7][8] . The second hypothesis suggests that endodermal germ cells seed within midline structures during embryonic migration from the yolk sac to the gonadal ridge [6,9,10] .…”