Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors What are extragonadal germ cell
tumors? This summary discusses the treatment of extragonadal
germ cell tumors. Germ cell tumors develop from testicular or
ovarian cells. Sometimes these cells travel to the chest or
abdomen and may turn into a rare type of cancer called
extragonadal germ cell tumor. Extragonadal germ cell tumors can
be cancerous or noncancerous. The cancerous tumors are divided
into 2 types, seminoma and nonseminoma. Nonseminoma cancers
include embryonal carcinoma, malignant teratoma, endodermal
sinus tumor, choriocarcinoma, and mixed germ cell tumors. These
tumors are more common in males, but also occur in females; they
are aggressive tumors and are usually found in young adults.
Nonseminomas can develop anywhere, but usually appear in the
chest, abdomen, or brain. Diagnosing (finding) the tumor may be
difficult; in young people who have masses in the trunk of the
body, nonseminoma should be considered. Noncancerous
extragonadal germ cell tumors are often very l