Germ cell tumor

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**Germ cell tumour**
*Classifications and external resources*
ICD-10	C 56., C 62., D 27., D 29.2
ICD-9	183, 186, 220, 222.0
ICD-O:	9060-9100
eMedicine	med/863

Germ cell tumors are neoplasms derived from germ cells. In females, germ cell tumours account for 30% of ovarian tumours, but only 1 to 3% of ovarian cancers in North America. In younger women germ cell lesions are more common, thus in patients under the age of 21, 60% of ovarian tumours are of the germ cell type, and up to one-third are malignant. In males, germ cell tumours occur typically after puberty and are malignant (testicular cancer). Germ cell tumours may develop outside of the gonads.

Germ Cell Tumors of the Thorax

The biology and clinical characteristics of mediastinal germ cell tumors have been defined during the last 30 years. These neoplasms, although rare, are of particular interest because they predominantly affect young males and because curative therapy is now available for many patients.

Malignant Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors

Mediastinal and other extragonadal germ cell tumors were initially thought to represent isolated metastases from an inapparent gonadal primary site.

Some investigators suggest that this distribution arises as a consequence of abnormal migration of germ cells during embryogenesis.

1 Classification
- 1.1 Benign
- 1.2 Malignant
2 References
3 See also

[edit] Classification

(ICD-O codes are provided where available.)

[edit] Benign

(9080/0) Mature teratoma- the most common variant is the dermoid cyst (9084/0), or benign cystic teratoma, a common ovarian neoplasm, typically not cancerous.