Treatment of Malignant Extragonadal Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of newly diagnosed childhood malignant extragonadal extracranial germ cell tumors in young children may include the following:

• Surgery and chemotherapy for stage I–IV tumors.
• Biopsy followed by chemotherapy with or without surgery for stage III and IV tumors.

In addition to stage of the disease, treatment of malignant extragonadal extracranial germ cell tumors also depends on where the tumor formed in the body:

• For tumors in the sacrum or coccyx, chemotherapy to shrink the tumor followed by surgery to remove the tumor and coccyx.
• For tumors in the mediastinum, chemotherapy before or after surgery to remove the tumor in the mediastinum.
• For tumors in the abdomen, biopsy followed by chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and surgery to remove the tumor in the abdomen.
• For tumors in the head and neck, surgery to remove the tumor in the head or neck, which may be followed by chemotherapy if the tumor is cancer.

Treatment of newly diagnosed childhood malignant extragonadal extracranial germ cell tumors in adolescents and young adults may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove the tumor.
• A clinical trial of a new regimen of surgery followed by observation for stage I tumors or chemotherapy for stage II–IV tumors.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.