Korean J Clin Pathol.
1999 Oct;19(5):496-499.
Bone Marrow Involvement of Primary Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumor: A Case Report
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 2Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
- A variety of solid tumors can metastasize to bone marrow. In rare cases actual circulating neoplastic cells can be identified, accounting for usually only a low proportion of total white blood cells. It is well known that hematologic malignancies are often associated with mediastinal germ cell tumors, but huge tumor cell burden resulting in leukemia-like presentation is a very rare manifestation. We report here a case of malignant germ cell tumor with leukemia-like infiltration of bone marrow. A 19-year-old man was admitted for dyspnea for several months. Computer tomographic scan revealed that he had a huge mass at anterior mediastinum with a large amount of pleural effusion. His pleural fluid had many numbers of large, pleomorphic atypical cells. Peripheral blood also contained atypical cells with similar morphology. On bone marrow biopsy, diffuse infiltration of tumor cells were noted suggesting acute leukemia, but immunophenotyping ruled out the possibility of hematologic malignancy. His serum alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were markedly elevated, which was consistent with the diagnosis of primary germ cell tumor. Cytogenetically the tumor cells showed hyper-triploidy. After induction chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin, the size of the tumor was regressed and the patient's symptoms were improved.
MeSH Terms
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alpha-Fetoproteins
Biopsy
Bleomycin
Bone Marrow*
Chorionic Gonadotropin
Cisplatin
Diagnosis
Dyspnea
Etoposide
Germ Cells*
Hematologic Neoplasms
Humans
Immunophenotyping
Induction Chemotherapy
Leukemia
Leukocytes
Mediastinum
Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal*
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
Pleural Effusion
Young Adult
Bleomycin
Chorionic Gonadotropin
Cisplatin
Etoposide
alpha-Fetoproteins
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