Positron Emission Tomography and Clinical Predictors of Survival in Primary Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors

Abstract

Primary extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGTs) are an uncommon malignancy accounting for 2–4% of all germ cell neoplasms in adult males. Their prognosis is worse than that for testicular germ cell tumors because of their relative chemoresistance and frequent presentation with widely disseminated metastases.

We have studied the role of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for outcome prediction of patients with EGTs.

Keywords

• extragonadal
• germ cell
• tumor
• outcome
• positron emission tomography