The histology of<unk>  is variable, but usually includes malignant<unk>  cells. These cells secrete alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which can be detected in tumor tissue, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, urine and, in the rare case of fetal<unk> , in amniotic fluid. When there is incongruence between biopsy and AFP test results for<unk> , the result indicating presence of<unk>  dictates treatment. This is because<unk>  often occurs as small "malignant foci" within a larger tumor, usually teratoma, and biopsy is a sampling method; biopsy of the tumor may reveal only teratoma, whereas elevated AFP reveals that<unk>  is also present. GATA-4, a transcription factor, also may be useful in the diagnosis of<unk> . Diagnosis of<unk>  in pregnant women and in infants is complicated by the extremely high levels of AFP in those two groups. Tumor surveillance by monitoring AFP requires accurate correction for gestational age in pregnant women, and age in infants. In pregnant women, this can be achieved simply by testing maternal serum AFP rather than tumor marker AFP. In infants, the tumor marker test is used, but must be interpreted using a reference table or graph of normal AFP in infants. Pathology<unk>  can have a multitude of morphologic patterns including: reticular,<unk><unk> -like, microcystic, papillary, solid, glandular, alveolar, polyvesicular vitelline, enteric and hepatoid. Schiller-Duval bodies on histology are pathognomonic and seen in the context of the<unk><unk> -like pattern. Rarely, it can be found in the vagina.
Endodermal sinus tumor
Endolymphatic sac tumor
Brown tumor
Ganglion cyst
Trichoblastoma
Nuchal fibroma
Germ cell tumor
Gonadoblastoma