Pediatric germ cell tumors

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) form a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that occur at different locations, affecting neonates, infants, adolescents and (mainly young) adults. Like most entities in pediatric pathology, a developmental angle is necessary to understand these lesions. GCTs form a continuum that starts with early embryonic cells that progressively mature into germ cells. Although predominantly located in the gonads, GCTs also occur at extra-gonadal sites along the midline, particularly before six years of age. This is based on the migratory pathways of primordial germ cells (PGC) during embryogenesis (Fig. 1).1

In children, GCTs are relatively rare, representing only between 1 and 3% of childhood tumors,2 comprising a remarkably diverse group in age, site of presentation, clinical behavior, and histology.[3], [4], [5]

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