Epidemiologic analysis of 1,442 children and adolescents registered in the German germ cell tumor protocols

Abstract

Two separate groups of GCTs with distinct clinical features relevant for differential diagnosis and the diagnostic assessment can be distinguished. This observation correlates with genetic studies that reveal different genetic changes in childhood and adolescence GCTs. Further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of germ cell and GCT development that account for the age- and sex-dependent clinical manifestation.