[Germ cell tumors in children and adolescents]

3.7% of the diagnoses in the Pediatric Tumour Registry (Zentrales Tumor-Register) of the German Society for Pediatric Oncology and Haematology (Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie) concern germ cell tumors. The annual incidence has increased from 0.22 in 1980 to 0.60 per 100,000 children in 1992. The most common localizations are the coccygeal region (25%), followed by the testes (20%), the ovaries (20%) or the brain (20%). Some malignant germ cell tumors tend to secret the tumour markers Alpha-1-Feto-protein and HCG, and may then be diagnosed clinically due to the increased serum or spinal fluid levels. In the cases of extensive tumors growth and secreting intracranial germ cell tumors, a preoperative chemotherapy is favourable. The latest chemotherapy regime containing Cis-Platinum allows us to achieve long term remission in 80% of cases. Risk factors for the regime include histology, localization stage, and incomplete resection of the primary tumors.