Incidence Patterns of Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors

• DOI: 10.1097/mph.0b013e3181983af5
• Publication Date: 2009-07-27T07:29:10Z
• Authors: Tress L. Goodwin; Kristin Sainani; Paul Graham Fisher
• Keywords: Germinoma

Incidence patterns of central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCTs) have been reported, but the influence underlying host risk factors has not rigorously explored. We aimed to determine in a large, population-based cancer registry how age, sex, and race, occurrence CNS GCTs pediatric population.Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results registry, we identified cases histologically confirmed children, adolescents, young adults (age 0 29 y), diagnosed between 1973 2004. The were limited only those with International Classification Childhood Cancer Xa: intracranial intraspinal germ-cell tumors. rates (per 10,000) for each sex race plotted single-age groups, then stratified by tumor location pathology subtype.The sample included total 638 (490 males). Males had significantly higher than females. Male female diverged starting at age 11 years remained widely discrepant until 30 years. There more germinomas nongerminomas both sexes. Germinomas peaked incidence during adolescence, whereas nongerminoma relatively constant children adults. Tumor differed strikingly (P<0.0001) pineal common males (61.0% vs. 15.5%). Asian was associated rate other races.Males GCTs, primarily germinomas, females, second decade. Pineal is strongly male representing over half all males. Asian-Americans races. These findings suggest robust poorly understood either genetic or hormonal, on GCTs.