[Germ cell tumors of testis, current concepts].
Histological pleomorphism of testicular germ cell tumors complicates diagnosis. These tumors share highly specific differentiation properties ranging from intra-tubular neoplasia to classical infiltrating lesions. This general review presents the histopathological features and diagnostic criteria of typical forms and atypical variants. In current practice, distinction between seminoma and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors is fundamental for treatment. Histological typing of non-seminomatous tumors may be problematical, especially in "mixed" forms. Vitelline tumor variants and atypical embryonic carcinoma are described. Unlike scattered isolated syncytiotrophoblastic cells, true chorio-carcinoma is rare and must be carefully identified. Such cells are frequently associated with seminoma, embryonic carcinoma and vitelline tumors. Intra-tubular germ-cell neoplasia and gonadoblastoma, are pre-invasive lesions associated with cryptorchidism and gonadal dysgenesis. Teratomatous elements usually occur in mixed germ cell tumors. Rare pure teratoma are benign in children. On the contrary, post-pubertal forms have an unpredictable evolution.
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Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, 80, avenue A.-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018237:Germinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D018238:Gonadoblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018239:Seminoma / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*