Gonadal and extragonadal germ cell tumours in the United States, 1973–2007

Abstract

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) most often arise in the gonads but some develop extragonadally. The aim of this study was to examine sex- and race-specific trends in incidence and survival of gonadal (GGCTs) and extragonadal GCTs (EGCTs) in the US from 1973 to 2007. We also examined the topographic distribution of EGCTs by race and sex. We estimated age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates and 5-year relative survival rates (RSR) of GCTs using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (SEER 9 registries). GCTs and their topographic sites were identified using ICD-O morphology and topography codes. Of 21,170 GCTs among males, 5.7% were extragonadal (whites 5.5%; blacks 16.3%). Of 2,093 GCTs among females, 39.3% were extragonadal (whites, 36.9%; blacks 51.0%). The incidence of GGCT was much higher among white (56.3/1,000,000) than black males (10.0/1,000,000) while there was no difference in incidence between white and black females (3.2/1,000,000). The rates of EGCT among men and women of both races were similar (range:1.9 – 3.4/1,000,000). The most frequent extragonadal sites were mediastinum among males and placenta among females. The 5-year RSR of testicular GCT was higher among whites (97%) than blacks (90%), as was the 5-year RSR of ovarian GCT (whites, 92%; blacks 85%). In general, the 5-year RSRs of EGCTs were lower than the 5-year RSRs of GGCTs. The different incidence trends of GGCTs and EGCTs and distinct age-specific incidence patterns by anatomic site of EGCTs suggests that GGCTs and EGCTs may have different etiologies.

Diagnostic markers for germ cell neoplasms: from placental-like alkaline phosphatase to micro-RNAs

“…The tumours arise most often in the gonads but can be found in extragonadal locations, usually close to the midline of the body [1]. Malignant GCT are much more frequent in males, which can be explained by differences in biology of male and female germ cells, especially during development [2,3]. In males, germ cell-derived malignancies occur predominantly in the testis, thus testicular GCT (TGCT) are the focus of this review.…”

Rare case of conus medullaris syndrome from a metastatic yolk sac tumor originating from the mediastinum of an adult male: a case report and review of the literature

“…The survival rate is 25% if there is evidence of metastatic disease. 1,15 Primary mediastinal NS-GCT has the worst survival of all extragonadal germ cell tumors due to large tumor bulk at diagnosis, resistance to chemotherapy and difficulty in removing all residual disease after chemotherapy.…”

“…Benign mature teratoma or seminoma are the most common subtype while nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) such as yolk sac tumors are rare. 1,14 Primary mediastinal NSGCT carry a poor prognosis with 40-50% 5-year relative survival rates after chemotherapy and surgery. The survival rate is 25% if there is evidence of metastatic disease.…”

“…In 1-5% of cases, these tumors originate in some specific extragonadal sites (notably midline structures from the pineal gland to the coccyx). 1,2 Yolk sac tumors are commonly found in the gonads of infants and children and are rare in adults. 3 In this article, we describe the case of an extragonadal yolk sac tumor originating from the mediastinum and presenting as a burst fracture with acute cord compression in an adult male.…”

“Burned-Out” Germ Cell Tumors of the Testis

“…Ekstragonadal germ hücreli tümörler tüm erişkin germ hücreli tümörlerinin %2-5'ini oluşturur (7,8). En sık görüldükleri yerler sıklık sırasıyla mediasten, retroperiton, pineal gland ve presakral bölgedir (9).…”