Changes to This Summary (10/05/2012)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

General Information About Childhood Central Nervous System (CNS) Germ Cell Tumors

Added text to state that the PDQ childhood brain tumor treatment summaries are organized primarily according to the World Health Organization classification of nervous system tumors (cited Louis et al. [IARC Press 2007] and Louis et al. [Acta Neuropathologica 2007] as references 1 and 2, respectively). Also revised text to state that for a full description of the classification of nervous system tumors and a link to the corresponding treatment summary for each type of brain tumor, refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors Treatment Overview.

Added Weksberg et al. as reference 4.

Stage Information for CNS Germ Cell Tumors

Added text to state that staging of patients with bifocal intracranial germinomas limited to the suprasellar and pineal region remains controversial, with some classifying these tumors as localized disease and others classifying such presentations as disseminated disease (cited Weksberg et al. as reference 2).

Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Germinomas

Added text to state that optimal management of bifocal lesions is unclear. A meta-analysis of 60 patients demonstrated excellent progression-free survival after craniospinal irradiation alone; chemotherapy plus localized radiation, including whole-ventricular irradiation, also resulted in excellent disease control (cited Weksberg et al. as reference 17 and level of evidence 3iiDiii).

Added Treatment Options Under Clinical Evaluation as a new subsection.

Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumors

Added Treatment Options Under Clinical Evaluation as a new subsection.

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database pages.