Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumors

Primary CNS GCTs are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that are more common in Japan and other Asian countries than in North America and Europe. In North America, they account for approximately 4% of all primary brain tumors, with a peak incidence from age 10 years to age 19 years and a male predominance in a pineal location.[1-3]

CNS GCTs are broadly classified as germinomatous and nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) on the basis of clinicopathological and laboratory features, including tumor markers.[4,5] An alternative therapeutic classification in Japan distinguishes three groups on the basis of their prognostication: good prognosis (e.g., germinoma), intermediate prognosis (e.g., teratoma with malignant transformation), and poor prognosis (e.g., yolk sac tumor, choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, and mixed tumors of those entities).[4]

Source NCI https://www.cancer.gov/types/brain/hp/child-cns-germ-cell-treatment-pdq#_37