Intracranial Germ Cell Tumor

Information about pediatric CNS Germ Cell Tumors treatment, clinical trials, and research from Texas Children's Cancer Center. Texas Children's Cancer Center's Brain Tumor Program and the Neuro-oncology Team treat patients with Intracranial Germ Cell Tumors.

What are Central Nervous System (CNS) Germ Cell Tumors?

Childhood Central Nervous System (CNS) germ cell tumors form in germ cells, which are cells that develop into sperm or ova (eggs). Germ cell tumors can be either benign or malignant. Germ cell brain tumors usually form in the center of the brain, near the pineal gland. The pineal gland is a tiny organ in the brain that makes melatonin, which is a substance that helps control the sleeping and waking cycle. Germ cell tumors can spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord.

What are the types of CNS Germ Cell Tumors?

• Germinomas
• Non-germinomas:
  • Embryonal carcinomas
  • Yolk sac tumors
  • Choriocarcinomas
  • Teratomas
• Mixed germ cell tumors. A mixed germ cell tumor has two types of germ cells in it.

About PDQ & This Cancer Information Summary

PDQ is the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) comprehensive cancer information database. PDQ is provided as a service of the NCI. The NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health, the federal government's focal point for biomedical research. The PDQ database contains summaries of the latest published information on cancer prevention, detection, genetics, treatment, supportive care, and complementary and alternative medicine. The PDQ cancer information summaries are developed by cancer experts and reviewed regularly.