Management of germ cell tumours in childhood

Abstract 

Germ cell tumours are a group of rare benign and malignant neoplasms of unknown cause, and may be gonadal or extragonadal (intracranial or extracranial). Teratomas are the most common and are usually benign. Malignant germ cell tumours often secrete the tumour markers alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophin, which are useful in diagnosis and monitoring. The treatment is surgical for teratoma and non-metastatic gonadal tumours. Chemotherapy, reserved in the UK for stage 2–4 extracranial malignant germ cell tumours, achieves a 5-year survival of around 90%. Intracranial tumours are typically pineal or suprasellar. Intracranial germinomas are cured in over 90% of cases with radiotherapy or combined chemoradiotherapy, whereas non-germinomatous tumours fare less well despite combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Keywords:  neoplasms, germ cell, infant/child/adolescent, neoplasms/gonadal/extragonadal, neoplasms, intracranial and antineoplastic combined chemotherapy