[Germ cell tumors in children. Evaluation of regional cases over a 23 year period]

Unlabelled: A retrospective study on germ cell tumors on children is reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate some prognostic factors (age, sex, site, histology, treatment) as well as to compare the casistic of Puglia Region with the results of the National literature. 45 patients (30 females, 15 males) aging 2 days-12 years observed in three Pediatric Centres of Bari into 23 years. Primary site of the tumor was: ovary 9, testis 9, sacrococcygeal 16, and others site 11 (head 4, mediastinum 2, pelvis 2, abdomen 2, gluteus 1). Histology: teratoma 31, choriocarcinoma 1, embryonal carcinoma 7, endodermal sinus tumor 5, germinoma 1. Treatment: surgery 35 patients, surgery+chemotherapy 6, surgery+chemotherapy+radiotherapy 4. Results of treatment: 37 of 41 valuable patients achieved a response (34 complete, 3 partial response); 4 patients had no response. Of the 37 patients that have had a complete or partial remission, 8 subsequently relapsed; of these 8 patients, 5 obtained a second remission after second line therapy, 3 are dead for progressive disease. Better prognosis was observed in children with gonadal tumors treated with surgery alone.