Vaginal germ cell tumors: results from the international retrospective VAGIPED study.

BACKGROUND

Vaginal malignant germ cell tumors (MGCTs), predominantly yolk sac tumors, are extremely rare, with no established consensus on optimal management. This study evaluated whether post-chemotherapy surgery is necessary for vaginal MGCTs.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with vaginal MGCTs from 1996 to 2023. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), the impact of surgical intervention, and the presence of post-chemotherapy residual mass (RM) were assessed.

RESULTS

Seventy-five patients (median age:11 months) were included. Six underwent initial tumor resection, and all received platinum-based chemotherapy. RM was detected post-chemotherapy in 57% of evaluable cases (40/70), with vaginoscopy outperforming standard imaging in detection (p < 0.001). The 5-year PFS and OS rates were 83% (95%CI: 71-90) and 94% (95%CI: 84-98), respectively. Neither RM (p = 0.64) nor delayed surgical intervention (5-year PFS: 77% (95%CI: 54-90) without surgery versus 85% (95%CI: 70-92) with surgery; log-rank test p = 0.72) significantly impacted PFS.

DISCUSSION: Neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy yields excellent survival outcomes in vaginal MGCTs. Vaginoscopy appears more sensitive than standard imaging for RM detection and is recommended for post-chemotherapy evaluation. In the absence of RM on vaginoscopy and with negative tumor markers, systematic post-chemotherapy surgery may be unnecessary. A global consensual framework for managing is proposed.