Newly Diagnosed

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Learning more about your child’s brain tumor diagnosis will empower you to move forward and take an active part in making the best possible choices for your child's care. Here you'll find information to help you anticipate what’s needed in the first few months after your child's diagnosis.

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Germ Cell Tumors

Germ cell tumors grow from germ cells, a type of cell that forms as an unborn baby develops in the womb. Sometimes germ cells travel to the brain and other parts of the body and grow into germ cell tumors.

About germ cell tumors

Germ cell tumors grow from germ cells, a type of cell that forms as a fetus (unborn baby) develops in the womb. Germ cells later become sperm in boys or eggs in girls. Sometimes, while the fetus is forming, germ cells travel to the brain and other parts of the body and grow into germ cell tumors.

Germ cell tumors that form in the brain or spinal cord are called central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors. They most commonly form near the pineal gland and near the pituitary gland and tissue just above it. Sometimes these tumors form in other areas of the brain.

There are different types of germ cell tumors:

Germinomas are the most common type of germ cell tumor and have a good chance of recovery.
Nongerminomas include some tumors that make hormones.
Teratomas are a type of nongerminoma that does not make hormones but has different kinds of tissue inside, such as hair, muscle, and bone. Teratomas are described as mature or immature based on how normal the cells look under a microscope.