| Diagnosis of germ cell tumours | 1331.00000000000 | Diagnosis of germ cell tumours | Diagnosis of germ cell tumours | D | English | Neurology;Oncology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Brain | Nervous system | NA | Adult (19+) | NA | | 2009-07-10T04:00:00Z | | | | | | 10.2000000000000 | 54.4000000000000 | 328.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>This page describes what is involved in the diagnosis of germ cell tumours.</p> | <p>Unlike many other types of brain tumours, the diagnosis of a germ cell tumour does not always require testing of tumour tissue from a biopsy. If an MRI or CT scan shows a tumour growing in the pineal or suprasellar region of the brain, this may already suggest that it is a germ cell tumour.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>Diagnosis of a germ cell tumour does not always require a biopsy.</li><li>An MRI and high beta-hCG hormones may indicate a child has a non-germinatous germ cell tumour.</li><li>Comprehensive staging investigations, such as an MRI, will help determine prognosis and a treatment plan.</li></ul> | <h2>How do you know that a child has a germ cell tumour?</h2><p>The most important type of testing is to determine whether tumour markers are increased. The presence of increased tumour markers is sufficient to confirm a diagnosis of germ cell tumour. Most brain tumour scientists agree that if a child has both evidence of a midline brain tumour on MRI and positive tumour markers as described above, there is no need for a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.</p><p>Beta-hCG is the same hormone that becomes higher when a woman is pregnant. Therefore, a positive pregnancy test in conjunction with positive findings on an MRI may indicate that a child has a non-germinatous germ cell tumour.</p><p>When tumour markers are increased, the doctor can decide to start treatment without further testing.</p><p>If a child shows evidence of brain tumour without the elevated tumour markers, most doctors will do a biopsy to determine what type of tumour the child has.</p><h2>What is staging?</h2><p>Germ cell tumours can spread, and comprehensive staging investigations, including MRI and analysis for tumour markers, are needed to determine the extent of disease. These can help the doctor estimate your child’s prognosis and determine a treatment plan.</p><h2>More information</h2><ul><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=1317&language=English">Germ Cell Tumours</a></li><li>
<a href="/Article?contentid=1347&language=English">Treatment of Germ Cell Tumours</a></li>
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