2. Introduction
Primary germ cell tumors (GCTs) arise by the
malignant transformation of primordial germ cells
Primary GCTs of testes constitute 95% of all testicular
tumors
Infrequently, GCTs arise from an extragonadal site
3. GERM CELL TUMORS IN MALES
90% are testicular in origin
10% are extragonadal:
Mediastinal
Retroperitoneal
Intra-cranial(Pineal gland)
Of the extragonadal sites, predominent site of
occurrence is mediastinal
5. Epidemiology
Most commonly seen in the age group of 15-35 years
Most common tumors in males in this age group
Contributes to upto 10% of all cancer deaths
Familial clustering has been observed, particularly
among siblings
6. Risk Factors
Cryptorchidism:
Associated in 2% of cryptorchids
Abdominal cryptorchids more likely to develop GCTs than
inguinal cryptorchids
Klinefelter’s Syndrome:
Testicular atrophy, gynecomastia, 47XXY karyotype
Increased likelihood of developing mediastinal GCT(upto
50 times normal) but not testicular tumors
7. Risk Factors(contd.)
Familial predisposition:
Strong familial predisposition in testicular GCT
The relative risk of development of these tumors in
fathers and sons of patients with testicular germ cell
tumors is 4 times higher than normal, and is 8 to 10
times higher between brothers
10. ITGCN
Intra Tubular Germ Cell Neoplasm
Considered as carcinoma-in-situ phase of GCT
This phase precedes all adult cases of testicular GCT,
frequently present in retroperitoneal presentations,
but rarely in mediastinal presentations
Cytologically, the ITGCN preceding both seminoma
and nonseminoma is identical
11.
12. SEMINOMA
Accounts for approximately 50% of GCTs
Most frequently appears in the fourth decade of life
The typical or classic form consists of large-cell sheets
with abundant cytoplasm, and round, hyperchromatic
nuclei with prominent nucleoli; frequently associated
with a lymphocytic infiltrate
13. Variants of Seminoma
Atypical: lymphocytic infiltration absent; necrosis
more common in the tumor mass; higher nucleo-
cytoplasmic ratio
Spermatocytic: rare variant; seen in older men; not
associated with ITGCN; minimal metastatic potential
14. NSGCT
Represent approx. 50% of all GCTs
Most frequently present in third decade of life
Most tumors show mixed histo-pathological cell types;
consisting of two or more cell lines(including
Seminoma)
15. NSGCT: Embryonal Carcinoma
Most undifferentiated type of NSGCT
Histopath: Epithelioid cells arranged in the form of
nests or tubulo-glandular structures or as sheets
Necrosis and hemorrhage are frequently observed in
the tumor
16. NSGCT: Choriocarcinoma
By definition, consists of both syncytiotrophoblasts
and cytotrophoblasts
Show high levels of hCG
Usually associated with widespread hematogenous
metastases
Might result in a severe complication if hemorrhage
occurs spontaneously at a metastatic site
17. NSGCT: Yolk Sac Tumor
Mimics the yolk sac of an embryo
Produces alpha-fetoprotein
Pure yolk sac component is uncommon in adult testes,
but accounts for significant percentage in primary
mediastinal GCTs
18. NSGCT: Teratoma
Composed of somatic cell types from two or more
germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm)
Derived from a totipotential, malignant precursor
(embryonal carcinoma or yolk sac tumor)
19. Usually are solid or cystic in appearance
Refered to as dermoid cysts if unilocular
Teratomas contain elements from all three germ cell
layers, with a predominance of the ectodermal
component
20. Ectodermal component: skin, hair, sweat glands,
sebaceous glands, and teeth
Mesodermal component: fat, smooth muscle, bone,
and cartilage
Endodermal component: Respiratory and intestinal
epithelium
21. NSGCT: Teratoma(contd.)
Immature teratoma - partial somatic differentiation of
these ectodermal, mesodermal or endodermal
components; similar to that seen in a fetus
Mature and immature teratomas are both histologically
benign
Teratoma with malignant transformation is a form of
teratoma in which an immature or mature component
histologically resembles a non-GCT somatic cancer
(leukemias, sarcomas, carcinoma)
22. Serum Tumor Markers
α- FetoProtein(αFP):
A glycoprotein of 591 amino acids encoded by AFP gene on
short arm of chromosome 4(4p25)
Major fetal plasma protein produced by yolk sac and fetal
liver
Serum t1/2: 5 - 7 days
Normal range in adults: < 5.4 ng/mL
24. Serum Tumor Markers(contd.)
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
A glycoprotein produced by the syncytiotrophoblast
It is made up of α and β subunits
αhCG- is identical to the subunit of LH, FSH, and TSH
molecular weight of αhCG- is 18,000, and that of
βhCG- is 28,000
Serum half-life: 36 – 72 hrs
25. Serum Tumor Markers:
βhCG(contd.)
Immunoassay techniques are used to quantify the
presence of β subunit of the molecule
Diagnosis and monitoring treatment response in germ
cell tumors
Also used in:
Pregnancy tests
Gestational trophoblastic diseases
Diagnosis and post-treatment care of ectopic pregnancy
As a component of ‘Triple Test’
26. Serum Tumor Markers(contd.)
Lactate dehydrogenase
Increases in the serum concentration of LDH are a
reflection of tumor burden, growth rate, and cellular
proliferation
Usually the first serum marker to show a rising trend
27. LDH(contd.)
Comparison of value from one lab to another is possible by
using ratios of the detected level to the upper limit of
normal for the individual assay
Increased serum LDH concentrations are observed in
approx. 60% of NSGCT patients with advanced disease and
up to 80% of patients with advanced seminoma
But less specific compared to the other two seum markers
28. Risk Stratification: Seminoma
Good Risk:
Any hCG
Any LDH
Non-pulmonary Visceral Metastases absent
Intermediate Risk:
Any hCG
Any LDH
Non-pulmonary Visceral Metastases present
Poor Risk:
Not defined
31. TNM Classification: T Staging
pTX Primary tumor cannot be assessed (if no radical orchiectomy has
been performed, TX is used)
pT0 No evidence of primary tumor (e.g., histologic scar in testis)
pTis Intratubular germ cell neoplasia (carcinoma in situ)
pT1 Tumor limited to the testis and epididymis without
vascular/lymphatic invasion. Tumor may invade into the tunica
albuginea but not the tunica vaginalis
pT2 Tumor limited to the testis and epididymis with
vascular/lymphatic invasion or tumor extending through the
tunica albuginea with involvement of the tunica vaginalis
pT3 Tumor invades the spermatic cord with or without
vascular/lymphatic invasion
pT4 Tumor invades the scrotum with or without vascular/lymphatic
invasion
32. TNM Classification: N staging
Nx Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 Metastasis with a lymph node mass ≤2 cm in greatest dimension; or
multiple lymph nodes, none >2 cm in greatest dimension
N2 Metastasis with a lymph node mass >2 cm but not >5 cm in greatest
dimension; or multiple lymph nodes, any one mass >2 cm but not
>5 cm in greatest dimension
N3 Metastasis with a lymph node mass >5 cm in greatest dimension
33. TNM Classification: M Staging
Mx Distant metastasis cannot be assessed
M0 No distant metastasis
M1a Nonregional nodal or pulmonary metastases
M1b Distant metastasis other than to nonregional lymph nodes and
lungs
35. Stage Grouping
T N M S
Stage I
IA pT1 N0 M0 S0
IB pT2 – 4 N0 M0 S0
IS Any pT/ pTx N0 M0 S1 – 3
Stage II
IIA Any pT/ pTx N1 M0 S0 – 1
IIB Any pT/ pTx N2 M0 S0 – 1
IIC Any pT/ pTx N3 M0 S0 – 1
Stage III
IIIA Any pT/ pTx Any N M1a S0 – 1
IIIB Any pT/ pTx N1 - 3 M0 S2
Any pT/ pTx Any N M1a S2
IIIC Any pT/ pTx N1 – 3 M0 S3
Any pT/ pTx Any N M1a S3
Any pT/ pTx Any N M1b Any S
36. Anatomical Considerations in
Staging
The initial route of metastasis in seminomas is
through lymphatic spread to RPLNs
In non-semonomas initial route of metastasis is
through hematogeneous route
40. Diagnosis
Testicular tumours usually present with a painless
unilateral scrotal mass
Approx. 10% present with dull scrotal ache, acute pain
(thought to be due to haemorrhage)
A small group present with RP metastases or a
disseminated disease, backache, lethargy & other
systemic features
41. Management of Seminoma
Surveillance:
Preferred option in compliant patients
avoid risk of 2nd tumours
avoid risk of toxic effects of chemotherapy
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Adjuvant radiotherapy
42. Management of NSGCT
Requires a multimodality approach including:
Surveillance
RPLND
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
43. Role of Imaging modalities
Imaging is largely used to confirm the presence of the
disease and for the assessment of its extent
Various imaging modalities that are used in diagnosis
and management of GCTs are:
Ultrasound
CT
MRI
PET/CT
44. Role of imaging modalities:
Ultrasound
Scrotal Ultrasound used for imaging in the initial
diagnosis of testicular GCTs
Certain types of GCT present with characteristic
findings on ultrasound
45. Ultrasound:
Seminoma: well-defined, homogenous, hypoechoic
compared to surrounding parenchyma
Embryonal cell tumor: less homogenous and well-
defined in comparison with seminoma
Teratoma: Characteristically of mixed echogenecity;
more likely to contain cystic spaces and calcifications
48. Ultrasound(contd.)
Assessment of retroperitoneal and pelvic nodes not as
reliable as compared to CT or MRI
Upto 17% of small volume disease may be missed
But can be useful in the assessment of solid intra-
abdominal organs, e.g. Liver
As a guide for needle placement during biopsy of
suspicious lesions
49. Role of Imaging modalities: CT
CT is used in staging of GCT as cross-sectional imaging of
both mediastinum and abdomen is necessary in staging of
the disease
Useful method in assessing metastatic disease in thorax,
abdomen and pelvis
Ability of HRCT to produce thinner sections helps in
increasing the sensitivity of pulmonary nodule detection
50. CT(contd.)
Drawbacks:
Inability of routine diagnostic CT in detecting and
assessing small volume lymphadenopathy and viable
tumor in normal volume lymph nodes
Post-chemo/radiation imaging fails to identify viable
tissue effectively as the anatomical details are hindered
with post therapy fibrosis
51. CT(contd.)
Unable to identify small volume disease in normal
sized nodes in upto 30% of patients with GCTs
Anatomical imaging modality like CT increases
chances of false negative as upper limit of lymph
nodes size is yet to be defined
52. Role of Imaging modalities: MRI
Better soft tissue contrast compared to USG and CT
More accurate in determining and defining
retroperitoneal lymph nodes
Detection of CNS, musculo-skeletal and hepatic
metastases
53. MRI(contd.)
Demonstration of IVC tumor invasion
Demonstration of vascular anatomy prior to RPLN
surgery
As an alternative in patients in whom IV contrast
cannot be given and in CT with equivocal findings
55. Role of imaging modalities: PET/CT
18F – FDG PET/CT is the main nuclear imaging
modality used in the management of GCTs
Being a hybrid imaging modality, carries the benefit of
defining the tumor and metastases anatomically as
well as in terms of identifying viable tumor foci
56. 18F-FDG PET/CT(contd.)
Surveillance is one of the options proposed in the
management of stage I seminomatous and NSGCT
when there is only a low risk of progression
More precise predictive factors of occult metastases
CT and MRI for GCT detection at diagnosis may be
flawed since GCT cells may be present in normal sized
lymph nodes
57. 18F-FDG PET/CT in initial staging
FDG-PET is a potentially useful diagnostic tool for
initial staging in patients with GCTs
FDG PET has been found capable of detecting
metastatic disease at diagnosis that is not identifiable
by other imaging modalities, with a PPV of 100% and
NPV of 76 – 91%(Hain SF et al, EJNM 2000 May)
However, FDG PET cannot identify mature teratomas
58.
59.
60.
61. FDG PET/CT in evaluation of
treatment response
In GCTs the prognostic relevance of the rate of decline
of serum AFP and beta-HCG for patients with
nonseminomatous GCT represents an easy tool in the
therapeutic management of these patients
However, FDG-PET can be used as an additional useful
biomarker for treatment evaluation in poor prognosis
GCT patients
62. 48 year Male, Diagnosed Lt Testis GCT- 1994.
Underwent Sx and Chemotherapy – 1994
Had retroperitoneal LNs recurrence –had 2 Sx 1996
and 2003
Increased AFP in 2007 – CT – 1.5 cm Rp LN
FNAC- Necrosis/GCT- Rx Chemo – AFP –ve
Follow-up PET-CT and AFP
63. Rakesh Kumar, AIIMS
Date Size (cm) SUV AFP
17.06.08 1.0 3.2 6.43
25.08.08 1.0 1.3 6.37
08.12.08 1.2 2.9 6.96
19.05.09 1.7 8.1 9.26
11.08.09 1.9 9.4 20.1
3 Cycles of Chemotherapy Given
64. FDG PET/CT in evaluation of post –
chemotherapy residual disease
Residual masses remain in 30% - 40% of patients after
completion of chemotherapy despite normalized
tumor markers
PET/CT can be used effectively as a diagnostic tool in
follow-up of post-chemotherapy patients to detect any
relapses
65. FDG PET/CT in evaluation of post –
chemotherapy residual disease
66. 21 year Male, NSGCT anterior Mediastinum,
Post chemotherapy, Tumor Markers- Negative
69. Role of FDG PET/CT in decision
making
The optimal management of residual masses remains a
controversial matter, with the two main options being
surgery and surveillance
Resection of residuals may be technically demanding
and connected with increased morbidity;
70. Decision-making(contd.)
Complications of postchemotherapy RPLND are higher than
for primary RPLND, ranging from 7% to 30% and include
wound infection
small bowel obstruction
chylous ascites
renovascular injury
neurologic injuries
Therefore, it is reserved only for patients with a high risk
of viable tumor
71. Decision-making(contd.)
De Santis et al(J Clin Oncol 2001) found FDG-PET to be
highly specific for residuals > 3 cm
They showed that FDG-PET is the best predictor of viable
neoplastic tissue in postchemotherapy seminoma residuals
and can be used as a standard tool for clinical decision-
making in this patient group
They also showed that patients with residual lesions, even
>3 cm, can safely undergo mere surveillance, provided that
FDG-PET is negative
72. FDG PET/CT
Drawbacks:
High sensitivity but low specificity
False-positive results for 18F-FDG PET during or shortly
after chemotherapy, mainly due to an inflammatory
process
18F-FDG is not a tumor specific agent; metabolic marker
Teratomatous primary histology might be a contributing
factor for the higher rate of false-negative 18F-FDG PET
findings in nonseminomas
73. PET/CT: Other
radiopharmaceuticals
Apart from 18F – FDG, 18F – FLT(Fluorothymidine),
a cell proliferation marker, has also been used in
assessment of metastatic germ cell
tumors(Pfannenberg et al, JNM 2010)
Thymidine kinase I (TK1) activity is thought to be
proportional to cellular proliferation and DNA
synthesis by the salvage pathway. Hence cells which
proliferate at a more rapid rate tend to take up 18F –
FLT more avidly
74. Once in the cell, FLT is a substrate for thymidine
kinase I (TK1) and is phosphorylated but is not
incorporated into DNA.
Phosphorylated FLT cannot exit the cell. FLT is not a
substrate for thymidine phosphorylase and so is not
significantly degraded in vivo and is retained in the
cells
75. 18F - FLT
Advantages:
marker of cellular proliferation
more cancer-specific tracer with only low uptake in
inflammatory tissue; hence lesser possibility of false
positive
76. The study by Pfannenberg et al included 11 patients
At the end of the study, 18F - FLT showed lower
sensitivity than 18F – FDG with bulky metastases
taking up lower amount of 18F – FLT as compared to
18F – FDG
77. Possible explanations for lesser uptake:
Competition
Active transport(Warburg effect)
Uptake period
78. CONCLUSION
Germ Cell tumors are diverse group of malignancies
that require a multi-modality approach in their
management
As they carry a high cure rate of upto 95% when
treated effectively, their management and follow-up
involves use of multiple imaging modalities and
serological marker evaluation
79. Conclusion(contd.)
18F – FDG PET/CT continues to be the primary nuclear
imaging modality
Plays a crucial role in the following aspects of management of
GCT:
Staging
Early prediction of response to chemotherapy
Post-treatment follow-up to detect relapses
Decision-making