What does Germinoma mean?

What does Germinoma mean?

Listen to pronunciation. (JER-mih-NOH-muh) A type of tumor that begins in germ cells (cells that form sperm or eggs). Germinomas can occur in the ovaries or testicles or other parts of the body, but they occur most often in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

How is Germinoma diagnosed?

Germinomas are potentially malignant in behavior and both infiltrate normal brain tissue as well as spread throughout the CNS. Thus, every patient should have standard staging procedures at diagnosis to include a post-op brain and spine MRI, lumbar CSF cytology and lumbar CSF tumor markers.

What is a pure Germinoma?

Germinoma is also known as a pure germ cell tumor. It responds well to treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation result in good outcomes. The other type of germ cell tumor of the brain is a non-germinomatous tumor.

How is Germinoma treated?

Germinoma is typically treated with radiation and in some cases, chemotherapy. Radiation can be curative for a majority of patients, however the long-term effects of this therapy has led to further investigation of treatments that combine chemotherapy with lower volumes and doses of radiation.

Is a Germinoma malignant?

Since 1994, MeSH has defined germinoma as “a malignant neoplasm of the germinal tissue of the gonads, mediastinum, or pineal region” and within its scope included both dysgerminoma and seminoma. Collectively, these are the seminomatous or germinomatous tumors.

Can Germinoma come back?

Back ground Intracranial germinomas are one of the most radiosensitive tumors and are curable by radiotherapy (RT) alone. RT-only therapy without chemotherapy is effective. But, as patients with germinoma can expect long-term survival, the adverse effects of RT and late sequelae in survivors are of most concern.

Is Germinoma curable?

Germinomas usually can be cured using chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The specific treatment will depend on the germinoma’s location, size, and other characteristics.

What is germ cell tumors?

Ovarian germ cell tumor is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the germ (egg) cells of the ovary. Germ cell tumors begin in the reproductive cells (egg or sperm) of the body. Ovarian germ cell tumors usually occur in teenage girls or young women and most often affect just one ovary.

What are the signs and symptoms of pineal tumors?

Some of the common signs and symptoms of a pineal tumor may include:

• Headaches (common)
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Vision changes.
• Trouble with eye movements.
• Tiredness.
• Memory problems.
• Balance or coordination problems.

What are ovarian germ cell tumors?

What is Extragonadal germ cell tumor?

Extragonadal germ cell tumors form from developing sperm or egg cells that travel from the gonads to other parts of the body. Age and gender can affect the risk of extragonadal germ cell tumors. Signs and symptoms of extragonadal germ cell tumors include breathing problems and chest pain.

Which is the best definition of a germinoma?

Also found in: Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. germinoma. a type of germ cell tumor consisting of large round cells with vesicular nuclei, usually found in the ovary, undescended testis, anterior mediastinum, or pineal gland; in males these are called seminomas and in females dysgerminomas.

When does a germ cell tumor become a tumor?

These tumors arise from germ cells, which normally become eggs or sperm after migrating to the ovaries or testes during fetal development. Germinomas occur when these germ cells fail to migrate to the proper location and continue dividing. Because germinomas are derived from germ cells, they are considered a subtype of germ cell tumors.

Is there such a thing as a germinoma brain tumor?

Although germinomas are very rare, at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, we have helped many infants, children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with germinoma. Our pediatric Brain Tumor Center is a world-renowned destination for children with malignant and non-malignant brain and spinal cord tumors.

How old do you have to be to get germinoma in the brain?

What is a germinoma in the brain? A germinoma is a rare form of cancer that is most often found in the brain of children between the ages of 10 and 19 years. The cancer originates in germs cells, which are actually sex cells that fail to leave the brain when the fetus is still in utero.