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Advances in the Management of Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors

  • Pediatric Oncology (S Epelman, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Intracranial germ cell tumors represent a relatively small portion of pediatric central nervous system tumors, with a reported incidence ranging from 3.6% in North America to 15.3% in parts of Asia. They are known to arise in midline locations, most frequently the pineal gland and suprasellar regions, and affect males twice to three times more frequently than females, especially in the case of pineal-region tumors. The median age of diagnosis is 10–12 years. The treatment of intracranial germ cells tumors is complicated by their relative rarity, histologic heterogeneity, and a lack of widespread consensus on their optimal management. Despite these challenges, important progress continues to be made, with a move toward multicenter and international collaborative efforts that offer potential for clinical advancements. This review focuses on recent developments in the management of intracranial germ cell tumors, including updates in diagnosis, surveillance, biology, treatment, and outcomes.

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Conflict of Interest

Nathan E. Millard and Ira J. Dunkel declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Nathan E. Millard & Ira J. Dunkel

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  1. Nathan E. Millard
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  2. Ira J. Dunkel
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Correspondence to Ira J. Dunkel.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pediatric Oncology

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Millard, N.E., Dunkel, I.J. Advances in the Management of Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors. Curr Oncol Rep 16, 393 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-014-0393-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-014-0393-1

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