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Pathology of the Pleura and Mediastinum pp 128–137Cite as

Germ Cell Tumors of Mediastinum

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

Synonyms

Mediastinal germinomas; Mediastinal gonocytomas

Definition

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) of the mediastinum are a heterogeneous group of tumors histopathologically corresponding to various ovarian and testicular germ cell tumors. The cell of origin of mediastinal GCT has not been identified although it has been proposed that they originate from misplaced primordial germ cells which have not reached the gonadal anlage during early embryogenesis.

Clinical Features

  • Incidence

    Germ cell tumors of the mediastinum are rare, accounting for less than 5% of all human GCTs. Nevertheless, mediastinum represents the most common site for extragonadal GCT. Accordingly, mediastinal GCTs comprise approximately two thirds of all extragonadal GCTs. An increased incidence of mediastinal GCT has been recorded in patients with Klinefelter syndrome

  • Age

    GCTs occur in all age groups, with a peak incidence in the 15–35 years age group (Stang et al. 2012). Seminomas occur only after the onset of puberty and...

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References and Further Reading

  • Albany, C., & Einhorn, L. H. (2013). Extragonadal germ cell tumors: Clinical presentation and management. Current Opinion in Oncology, 25, 261–265.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKenney, J. K., Heerema-McKenney, A., & Rouse, R. V. (2002). Extragonadal germ cell tumors: A review with emphasis on pathologic features, clinical prognostic variables, and differential diagnostic considerations. Advances in Anatomic Pathology, 14, 69–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moran, C. A., & Suster, S. (1997). Primary germ cell tumors of the mediastinum. I. Analysis of 322 cases with special emphasis on teratomatous lesions and a proposal for histopathologic classification and clinical staging. Cancer, 80, 681–690.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stang, A., Trabert, B., Wentzensen, N., et al. (2012). Gonadal and extragonadal germ cell tumors in the United States, 1973–2007. International Journal of Andrology, 35, 616–625.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Weidner, N. (1999). Germ-cell tumors of the mediastinum. Seminars Diagnostic Pathology, 16, 42–50.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wick, M. R., Perlman, E. J., Gobel, U., et al. (2004). Teratoma. In W. D. Travis, E. Brambilla, H. K. Muller-Hermelink, & C. C. Harris (Eds.), Tumours of the lung, pleura, thymus and heart. Lyon: IARC Press.

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  • Williamson, S. R., & Ulbright, T. M. (2014). Germ cell tumors of the mediastinum. In A. M. Marchevsky & M. R. Wick (Eds.), Pathology of the mediastinum (pp. 146–168). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA

    Ivan Damjanov

  2. Institute of Pathology, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia

    Nenad Kunac

Authors
  1. Ivan Damjanov
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  2. Nenad Kunac
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ivan Damjanov .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The University of Mississippi Medical School, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Timothy Craig Allen

  2. Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Saul Suster

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Cite this entry

Damjanov, I., Kunac, N. (2018). Germ Cell Tumors of Mediastinum. In: Allen, T.C., Suster, S. (eds) Pathology of the Pleura and Mediastinum. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66796-6_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66796-6_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-66795-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-66796-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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