Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
05:24
Teratoma Generation in the Testis Capsule
Published on: November 7, 2011
Mixed or metachronous germ-cell tumor?
Kyu-Won Shim1, Dong-Seok Kim, Joong-Uhn Choi
1Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Summary
A rare case of a second, distinct germ-cell tumor developed in a young man years after successful treatment of a pineal germinoma. This metachronous neoplasm highlights the importance of long-term surveillance for these rare tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Germ-cell tumors (GCTs) are rare, with pineal GCTs accounting for a small subset.
- Metachronous GCTs, occurring at different sites and times, are exceptionally uncommon.
Observation:
- A 21-year-old male presented with symptoms indicative of a pineal region tumor.
- Initial diagnosis was pineal germinoma, treated successfully with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- A subsequent, distinct tumor in the temporal lobe was diagnosed as a mixed germ-cell tumor (yolk-sac tumor and germinoma).
Findings:
- The patient experienced a second GCT with different histology at a new site, 12 months after resolution of the initial pineal germinoma.
- Histological analysis confirmed the second tumor as a mixed germ-cell tumor, distinct from the primary germinoma.
- The patient achieved complete remission after treatment for the second tumor.
Implications:
- This case underscores the possibility of metachronous GCTs, even with different histological subtypes and locations.
- Long-term follow-up is crucial for patients treated for GCTs to detect potential late recurrences or new primary tumors.
- Understanding the distinct biological behavior of metachronous GCTs is essential for optimizing treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Tumor Progression
Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
02:30Metastasis
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
01:29Nondisjunction
During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.