Primary skull-based yolk-sac tumour: case report and review of central nervous system germ cell tumours

Primary intra-cranial germ-cell tumours (GCT) are rare and it is important to differentiate them histologically as their prognosis and treatment is quite different. Moreover, highly malignant non-germinomatous GCT (NG GCT) comprise a small portion of these tumours with limited data available on appropriate treatment approaches. We present the case of a 22-year-old male with a unique primary skull-based yolk-sac subtype NG GCT with a literature review of current treatment options. To our knowledge, there have not been any previously published reports of a primary yolk-sac tumour arising from the petrous apex.