Germ cell tumor in infancy and childhood: experience at one institute compared to other studies

To understand the difference in incidence and distribution of germ cell tumor (GCT) between cases seen in this institute and Western studies, 98 cases of GCTs collected from 1979 to 1996 were included 50 with gonadal GCTs, 9 with mediastinal GCTs; 9 with retroperitoneal GCTs, 10 with sacrococcygeal GCTs and 20 with intracranial GCTs; all were analyzed retrospectively by chart review. The incidences of testicular and intracranial GCT in all GCTs were higher in this study, i.e. 26.5%(26/98) and 20.4%(20/98) compared to 7% and 6% of American reports. But the incidence of sacrococcygeal GCT in all GCTs was lower in this study, i.e. 10.2%(10/98) compared to 41% of American reports. The incidences of testicular and ovarian GCT in all GCTs were about the same in this study, i.e. 26.5%(26/98) and 24.5%(24/98) compared to 7% and 29% of American reports; 51%(50/98) of all GCTs were gonadal in this study compared to 36% in the American reports.