U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Germ cell tumor of testis(TGCT)

MedGen UID:
277809
•Concept ID:
C1336708
•
Neoplastic Process
Synonyms: GERM CELL TUMOR, SOMATIC; Testicular germ cell tumor; TGCT
SNOMED CT: Germ cell tumor of testis (713577007)
 
Genes (locations): BCL10 (1p22.3); FGFR3 (4p16.3); KIT (4q12); STK11 (19p13.3)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0010108
OMIM®: 273300
Orphanet: ORPHA363504

Definition

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) affect 1 in 500 men and are the most common cancer in males aged 15 to 40 in western European populations. The incidence of TGCT rose dramatically during the 20th century. Known risk factors for TGCT include a history of undescended testis (UDT), testicular dysgenesis, infertility, previously diagnosed TGCT, and a family history of the disease. Brothers of men with TGCT have an 8- to 10-fold risk of developing TGCT, whereas the relative risk to fathers and sons is 4-fold. This familial relative risk is much higher than that for most other types of cancer (summary by Rapley et al., 2000). Genetic Heterogeneity of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors A locus for testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT1; 300228) has been identified on chromosome Xq27. [from OMIM]

Clinical features

From HPO
Embryonal neoplasm
MedGen UID:
45034
•Concept ID:
C0027654
•
Neoplastic Process
A usually malignant neoplasm composed of primitive (immature) tissues that resemble fetal tissues. Medulloblastoma, ependymoblastoma, pineoblastoma, and Wilms tumor are representative embryonal neoplasms.
See: Feature record | Search on this feature
Teratoma
MedGen UID:
21097
•Concept ID:
C0039538
•
Neoplastic Process
The presence of a teratoma.
See: Feature record | Search on this feature
Azoospermia
MedGen UID:
2150
•Concept ID:
C0004509
•
Disease or Syndrome
Absence of any measurable level of sperm,whereby spermatozoa cannot be observed even after centrifugation of the semen pellet.
See: Feature record | Search on this feature
Elevated circulating alpha-fetoprotein concentration
MedGen UID:
65916
•Concept ID:
C0235971
•
Finding
Concentration of alpha-fetoprotein in the blood circulation above the upper limit of normal.
See: Feature record | Search on this feature
Choriocarcinoma
MedGen UID:
40278
•Concept ID:
C0008497
•
Neoplastic Process
A malignant, trophoblastic and aggressive cancer, usually of the placenta. It is characterized by early hematogenous spread to the lungs and belongs to the far end of the spectrum of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), a subset of germ cell tumors.
See: Feature record | Search on this feature
Show allHide all

Term Hierarchy

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Management of testicular germ cell tumors.
Wee CE, Gilligan TD
Clin Adv Hematol Oncol 2023 Apr;21(4):179-188. PMID: 37039725
The contemporary management of cancers of the sinonasal tract in adults.
Thawani R, Kim MS, Arastu A, Feng Z, West MT, Taflin NF, Thein KZ, Li R, Geltzeiler M, Lee N, Fuller CD, Grandis JR, Floudas CS, Heinrich MC, Hanna E, Chandra RA
CA Cancer J Clin 2023 Jan;73(1):72-112. Epub 2022 Aug 2 doi: 10.3322/caac.21752. PMID: 35916666Free PMC Article
Testicular Cancer, Version 2.2020, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.
Gilligan T, Lin DW, Aggarwal R, Chism D, Cost N, Derweesh IH, Emamekhoo H, Feldman DR, Geynisman DM, Hancock SL, LaGrange C, Levine EG, Longo T, Lowrance W, McGregor B, Monk P, Picus J, Pierorazio P, Rais-Bahrami S, Saylor P, Sircar K, Smith DC, Tzou K, Vaena D, Vaughn D, Yamoah K, Yamzon J, Johnson-Chilla A, Keller J, Pluchino LA
J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2019 Dec;17(12):1529-1554. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2019.0058. PMID: 31805523

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Robotic versus Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Lymph node Dissection for Clinical Stage I Non-seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor of Testis: A Comparative Analysis.
Xu Y, Li H, Wang B, Gu L, Gao Y, Fan Y, Yao Y, Fam X, Ma X, Zhang X
Urol J 2021 Oct 4;18(6):618-622. doi: 10.22037/uj.v18i.6629. PMID: 34606083
Radiological nodule behavior: A critical parameter in the surgical management of pediatric pulmonary metastases.
Divarcı E, Arslan S, Dökümcü Z, Kantar M, Demirağ B, Öniz H, Ertan Y, Alper H, Erdener A, Özcan C
Turk J Pediatr 2018;60(4):372-379. doi: 10.24953/turkjped.2018.04.003. PMID: 30859760
Gene expression profiling of early- and late-relapse nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the testis.
Sugimura J, Foster RS, Cummings OW, Kort EJ, Takahashi M, Lavery TT, Furge KA, Einhorn LH, Teh BT
Clin Cancer Res 2004 Apr 1;10(7):2368-78. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-03-0341. PMID: 15073113
The stage I yolk sac tumor of testis in children younger than 2 years, chemotherapy or not?
Liu HC, Liang DC, Chen SH, Liu FL, Chang PY, Sheu JC, Wang NL
Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1998 May-Jun;15(3):223-8. doi: 10.3109/08880019809028788. PMID: 9615319
Observation after orchiectomy in clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of testis. Mayo Clinic experience.
Patel SR, Richardson RL, Kvols L, Zincke H
Am J Clin Oncol 1990 Oct;13(5):379-81. doi: 10.1097/00000421-199010000-00003. PMID: 2171316

Diagnosis

Radiological nodule behavior: A critical parameter in the surgical management of pediatric pulmonary metastases.
Divarcı E, Arslan S, Dökümcü Z, Kantar M, Demirağ B, Öniz H, Ertan Y, Alper H, Erdener A, Özcan C
Turk J Pediatr 2018;60(4):372-379. doi: 10.24953/turkjped.2018.04.003. PMID: 30859760
Clinical presentation features of testicular cancer in public hospitals in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain.
Moreno A, Domínguez A, Alpuente C, Hernándo A, Torres J, Cabrera JA
Actas Urol Esp 2015 Jan-Feb;39(1):2-7. Epub 2014 Sep 7 doi: 10.1016/j.acuro.2014.03.009. PMID: 25204991
Gene expression profiling of early- and late-relapse nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the testis.
Sugimura J, Foster RS, Cummings OW, Kort EJ, Takahashi M, Lavery TT, Furge KA, Einhorn LH, Teh BT
Clin Cancer Res 2004 Apr 1;10(7):2368-78. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-03-0341. PMID: 15073113
The stage I yolk sac tumor of testis in children younger than 2 years, chemotherapy or not?
Liu HC, Liang DC, Chen SH, Liu FL, Chang PY, Sheu JC, Wang NL
Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1998 May-Jun;15(3):223-8. doi: 10.3109/08880019809028788. PMID: 9615319
Observation after orchiectomy in clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of testis. Mayo Clinic experience.
Patel SR, Richardson RL, Kvols L, Zincke H
Am J Clin Oncol 1990 Oct;13(5):379-81. doi: 10.1097/00000421-199010000-00003. PMID: 2171316

Therapy

Robotic versus Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Lymph node Dissection for Clinical Stage I Non-seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor of Testis: A Comparative Analysis.
Xu Y, Li H, Wang B, Gu L, Gao Y, Fan Y, Yao Y, Fam X, Ma X, Zhang X
Urol J 2021 Oct 4;18(6):618-622. doi: 10.22037/uj.v18i.6629. PMID: 34606083
Solitary skull recurrence from stage I seminomatous germ cell tumor of testis.
Spermon JR, Oyen WJ, Strijk SP, Hulsbergen-van de Kaa CA, Witjes JA
Urology 2004 Aug;64(2):377-9. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2004.03.048. PMID: 15302506
The stage I yolk sac tumor of testis in children younger than 2 years, chemotherapy or not?
Liu HC, Liang DC, Chen SH, Liu FL, Chang PY, Sheu JC, Wang NL
Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1998 May-Jun;15(3):223-8. doi: 10.3109/08880019809028788. PMID: 9615319
Initial assessment of tumor-associated antigen CA-125 in patients with ovarian, cervical, and testicular tumors.
Buamah PK, Cornell C, Skillen AW, Cantwell BM, Harris AL
Clin Chem 1987 Jul;33(7):1124-5. PMID: 3036401
Indolent nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of testis. Prolonged survival of patient with persistent metastatic disease.
Baker TM, Chan AH, Stutz FH
Urology 1986 Apr;27(4):349-52. doi: 10.1016/0090-4295(86)90312-2. PMID: 3008399

Prognosis

Radiological nodule behavior: A critical parameter in the surgical management of pediatric pulmonary metastases.
Divarcı E, Arslan S, Dökümcü Z, Kantar M, Demirağ B, Öniz H, Ertan Y, Alper H, Erdener A, Özcan C
Turk J Pediatr 2018;60(4):372-379. doi: 10.24953/turkjped.2018.04.003. PMID: 30859760
Gene expression profiling of early- and late-relapse nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the testis.
Sugimura J, Foster RS, Cummings OW, Kort EJ, Takahashi M, Lavery TT, Furge KA, Einhorn LH, Teh BT
Clin Cancer Res 2004 Apr 1;10(7):2368-78. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-03-0341. PMID: 15073113
The stage I yolk sac tumor of testis in children younger than 2 years, chemotherapy or not?
Liu HC, Liang DC, Chen SH, Liu FL, Chang PY, Sheu JC, Wang NL
Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1998 May-Jun;15(3):223-8. doi: 10.3109/08880019809028788. PMID: 9615319
Observation after orchiectomy in clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of testis. Mayo Clinic experience.
Patel SR, Richardson RL, Kvols L, Zincke H
Am J Clin Oncol 1990 Oct;13(5):379-81. doi: 10.1097/00000421-199010000-00003. PMID: 2171316
Indolent nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of testis. Prolonged survival of patient with persistent metastatic disease.
Baker TM, Chan AH, Stutz FH
Urology 1986 Apr;27(4):349-52. doi: 10.1016/0090-4295(86)90312-2. PMID: 3008399

Clinical prediction guides

Radiological nodule behavior: A critical parameter in the surgical management of pediatric pulmonary metastases.
Divarcı E, Arslan S, Dökümcü Z, Kantar M, Demirağ B, Öniz H, Ertan Y, Alper H, Erdener A, Özcan C
Turk J Pediatr 2018;60(4):372-379. doi: 10.24953/turkjped.2018.04.003. PMID: 30859760
Observation after orchiectomy in clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of testis. Mayo Clinic experience.
Patel SR, Richardson RL, Kvols L, Zincke H
Am J Clin Oncol 1990 Oct;13(5):379-81. doi: 10.1097/00000421-199010000-00003. PMID: 2171316

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Reviews

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...