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There are two main types of Germ cell tumours of the brain:
Germinomas
Germinomas are highly curable tumours with radiation therapy administered in the tumour and surrounding area. In order to decrease
the radiation dose, a few cycles of chemotherapy can be also used.
Non Germinomatous Germ cell
These tumours include a wide variety of histologies such as teratoma (mature and immature), choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma,
yolk sac tumour and mixed germ cell tumour. Their treatment include biopsy of the tumour, measurement of the tumour markers in the
blood and cerebrospinal fluid (spinal tap) chemotherapy for 4-6 cycles, surgical resection of the tumour and radiation therapy.
Their prognosis is inferior to germinoma.
For germ cell tumours outside the brain surgery is the mainstay of treatment, with follow up of the tumour markers. Chemotherapy
may have to be used for unresectable tumours or in patients where tumour markers have not appropriately decreased following surgery.
Currently patients who experience re-growth of their tumour are offered surgery, radiation therapy and/or high doses of
chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplant, depending on the pattern of relapse.
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