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Article: Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Extragonadal germ cell tumors
Definition
Germ cells are primitive cells within the body that normally mature into ova (egg) or sperm cells. More than 90% of all
germ cell tumors
are gonadal; that is, they develop in the ovaries or the testes (the gonads). The remaining 5-10% of germ cell tumors arise outside of the gonads: these are the extragonadal germ cell tumors. These tumors occur mostly in the chest, lower back, and head.
Description
Extragonadal germ cell tumors are related to developmental problems that occur prior to birth. In the growing embryo, germ cells migrate to the immature ovaries or testes. In some instances, these cells fail to move to the gonads and end up in ...