Yolk Sac Tumor

Diagnosis involves a physical examination to check for signs of a yolk sac tumor, like unusual lumps or swelling in your abdomen or testicles. Your healthcare provider will also ask about your symptoms.

Tests you may need include:

• Blood tests. Your provider will check your blood for high levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Nearly all yolk sac tumors secrete this protein.
• Imaging tests. Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most common imaging tests providers use to detect these tumors.
• Surgical excision. Your provider will remove the entire mass (and sometimes, the entire organ containing the mass) and test it in a lab for cancer cells. This is the only way to be sure a mass is a yolk sac tumor.

Staging yolk sac tumors

Healthcare providers stage yolk sac tumors to determine how advanced the cancer is and find the best treatment options. Using information like tumor size and the extent of cancer spread, they assign a number or “stage.” Lower numbers mean that cancer is in the early stages. Higher numbers mean more advanced cancer.

Testicular yolk sac tumors range from stages 1 to 3:

• Stage 1: The cancer is only in your testicle.
• Stage 2: Cancer has spread to your lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: Cancer cells have spread to other organs.

Ovarian yolk sac tumors range from stages 1 to 4:

• Stage 1: The cancer hasn’t spread beyond one or both ovaries.
• Stage 2: Cancer cells have spread below your pelvis, but they’re not in your lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: The cancer has spread to your lymph nodes and the layer of tissue lining your abdomen (peritoneum) that’s outside your pelvis.
• Stage 4: Cancer has spread to tissues and organs other than your peritoneum.