Germ Cell Tumors

Identical to gonadal GCTs; occur along the midline neuroaxis in children and young adults.

Subtypes4

Grade Range

G1G2G3G4

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Subtypes

Germinoma

WHO Grade 3

Highly radiosensitive. Strong male predilection in pineal region, female in suprasellar.

Diagnostic Molecular Markers

C-KIT (CD117) positive

Locations:

📍 pineal 📍 sellar

Teratoma (Mature/Immature)

WHO Grade 1WHO Grade 2WHO Grade 3

Multineage differentiation. AFP negative.

Locations:

📍 pineal 📍 sellar

Yolk sac tumor

WHO Grade 4

Malignant non-germinomatous GCT.

Diagnostic Molecular Markers

Elevated AFP

Locations:

📍 pineal 📍 sellar

Choriocarcinoma

WHO Grade 4

Highly malignant, hemorrhagic NGGCT.

Diagnostic Molecular Markers

Elevated beta-hCG

Locations:

📍 pineal

Primary Locations

Clinical Note

Grading and diagnostic criteria listed here are based strictly on the 2021 WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System (5th Edition). Many entities now require integrated phenotypic and genotypic characterization for a final diagnosis.