Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors

Childhood central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors form from germ cells, a type of cell that forms as a fetus develops and later becomes sperm in the testicles or eggs in the ovaries. Sometimes while the fetus is forming, germ cells travel to other parts of the body and grow into germ cell tumors. Germ cell tumors that form in the brain or spinal cord are called CNS germ cell tumors.

The most common places for one or more CNS germ cell tumors to form is near the pineal gland and in an area of the brain that includes the pituitary gland and the tissue just above it. Sometimes germ cell tumors may form in other areas of the brain.

CNS germ cell tumors usually occur in children, but may occur in adults as well. There are different types of childhood CNS germ cell tumors—germinomas, nongerminomas, and teratomas. Primary CNS germ cell tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that account for 3% to 4% of primary brain tumors in children in Western countries, with most cases occurring in those between the ages of 10 and 19, according to federal estimates.

Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors Treatment (PDQ®)

Source: National Cancer Institute