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Pediatric Teratomas and Other Germ Cell Tumors

Practice Essentials

Teratomas (from Greek teras, “monster,” and –oma, a suffix denoting a tumor or neoplasm) and other germ cell tumors are relatively common solid neoplasms in children. They may occur in both gonadal and extragonadal locations. Locations and specific tumor types depend on the age of the child. These tumors are grouped together because they all appear to arise from postmeiotic germ cells. Most of the malignant tumors produce markers that can be serologically assessed.

For children with extracranial germ cell tumors, surgery is an essential component of treatment. Depending on the clinical factors present, appropriate treatment may involve one of the following:

Surgical resection followed by careful monitoring for disease recurrence

Initial surgical resection followed by platinum-based chemotherapy

Diagnostic tumor biopsy and preoperative platinum-based chemotherapy followed by definitive tumor resection

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