title: Clinical profile, treatment and survival outcomes of peadiatric germ cell tumours: A Pakistani perspective.
abstract: Germ Cell Tumours (GCTs) are rare tumours. Generally 80% are benign and 20% malignant with a bimodal age distribution. The retrospective study was conducted at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised all paediatric patients below 18 years of age who received treatment for histology-proven GCT from 2006 to 2014. Of the 207 patients, 98(42.3%) were males and 109(52.7%) were females. The most common GCT was yolk sac tumour in 90(43.5%) children followed by mixed GCT in 40(19.3%) and dysgerminoma in 34(16.4%). Gonads were most commonly involved in 165(79.7%) patients with metastasis in 24(11.6%) at presentation and recurrence in 26(12.5%) patients. Overall, 133(64.3%) patients are well and followed up at regular intervals and 55(26.5%) have been lost to follow-up with an expected overall 5-year median survival of 45%. Despite the distinct clinical profile of paediatric GCT, survival can be improved by early diagnosis, regimented treatment according to set guidelines, protocols and by improving follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Irfan Ul
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Islam Nasir
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Ijaz
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nouman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Fahd
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Taqi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pirzada
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amir Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgeon, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abid Quddus
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Qazi
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010154:Pakistan; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords:  Germ cell tumours, Yolk sac tumour, Dysgerminoma.