title: Late relapse of germ cell tumors.
abstract: This article highlights relevant aspects of the rare late relapses of malignant germ cell tumors (MGCTs), which by definition occur at least 2 years after successful treatment. In most reports, 1% to 6% of patients with MGCT experience a late relapse. Surgery is the most important part in the treatment of late relapses. Viable MGCT or teratoma with malignant transformation may require multimodal treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery. Salvage chemotherapy should be based on a representative biopsy. Referring patients with late relapse to high-volume institutions ensures the best chances of cure and enables multimodal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway. jan.oldenburg@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorch
authors.forename: Sophie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013724:Teratoma / Q000628:therapy; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors