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. 2010 Dec 15;2(12):443-5.
doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v2.i12.443.

Retroperitoneal germ cell tumor diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration

Craig M Womeldorph  1 , Mark M Zalupski, Stewart M Knoepp, Mohammad Soltani, B Joseph Elmunzer
Affiliations

Retroperitoneal germ cell tumor diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration

Craig M Womeldorph et al. World J Gastrointest Oncol. .

Abstract

Isolated extragonadal germ cell tumors can be primary in nature or metastatic from a burned out testicular cancer. Accurate diagnosis is critical as appropriate therapy can be highly curative. We present the case of an isolated extragonadal germ cell tumor in the retroperitoneum diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. This case underscores the importance of considering germ cell tumors in the differential diagnosis of an unexplained retroperitoneal mass, particularly since immunophenotypic staining may be necessary to establish the diagnosis.

Keywords: Endoscopic ultrasound; Fine needle aspiration; Germ cell tumor.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Computed tomography image revealing a large mass in the retroperitoneum abutting the pancreas and compressing the inferior vena cava.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Endoscopic ultrasound image of a well-circumscribed hypoechoic mass compressing the inferior vena cava and aorta.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photomicrographs. A: A fine needle aspirate revealing undifferentiated anaplastic carcinoma of unclear origin (DiffQuik™ stain, × 400); B: A fine needle aspirate revealing a strong nuclear immunostaining pattern consistent with a germ cell tumor, favoring seminoma (OCT-4 stain - HE counterstain, × 200).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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