Germ cell tumor (patient information)

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What is germ cell tumor?

Germ cells are special cells in a developing embryo that become the gonads in people. When these cells travel to other areas of the body such as the chest, abdomen, or brain, germ cell tumor appears. Germ cell tumor includes a large group of tumor such as germinoma, embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, teratoma and gonadoblastoma, etc. It can be benign or cancerous. Patients may not feel any discomfort at early peroid. With the development of the cancer, frequent symptoms include pain in the affected area, constipation, urinary retention, cough and/or difficulty breathing, headache, vaginal bleeding, etc. Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy.

How do I know if I have germ cell tumor and what are the symptoms of germ cell tumor?

The symptoms of germ cell tumor depend on the location of the cancer. Early cancer does not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows larger, patients may feel the following symptoms.

• Pain in the affected area

• Constipation

• Urinary retention

• Cough and/or difficulty breathing

• Headache

• Vaginal bleeding

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at risk for germ cell tumor?

At present, the risk factors for the development of a germ cell tumor are not known.

How to know you have germ cell tumor?

• Biopsy: Biopsy is the most important test for the diagnosis. During this peroid, the doctors remove a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Then the pathologists may analyze the samples and tell whether the tissues is benign or cancerous.

• Alphafetoprotein (AFP) test: AFP is a tumor marker for a germ cell tumor. It is a protein that increases in the mother’s blood during pregnancy and can be detected by amniocentesis. Beside, the levels of AFP in the blood may be monitored to determine how well a treatment is working.

• Ultrasonography: This is an painless test which uses sound waves to create a picture of the internal organs. Because tumors generate different echoes of sound waves than normal tissue, the doctor can locate a mass inside the body.

• Computed tomography (CT) scan and biopsy: CT scans are often used to diagnose germ cell tumor. It can confirm the location of the cancer and show the organs nearby. These are helpful for determining the stage of the cancer and in determining whether surgery is a good treatment option. CT scans can also be used to guide biopsy and a biopsy sample is usually removed and looked at under a microscope.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields but it is a different type of image than what is produced by computed tomography (CT) and produces detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture.

• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: When doing this test, a small amount of a radioactive medium is injected into your body and absorbed by the organs or tissues. This radioactive substance gives off energy which in turn is used to produce the images. PET can provide more helpful information than either CT or MRI scans. It is useful to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and it is also useful for your doctor to locate where the cancer has spread.

Where to find medical care for germ cell tumor?

Directions to Hospitals Treating germ cell tumor

Copyleft Sources

http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Germ+Cell+Tumor+-+Childhood