Treatment will depend on the age of the child. The majority of childhood malignant testicular germ cell tumors occur in boys younger than 4 years of age. Surgery is the most common form of treatment for testicular germ cell tumor. A doctor may take out the tumor by removing one or both testicles through an incision (cut) in the groin. This is called a radical inguinal orchiectomy. Treatment for boys younger than 5 years of age will be radical inguinal orchiectomy with or without chemotherapy.

The treatment for adolescents and young adults with testicular germ cell tumor is the same as the treatment for adults. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Testicular Cancer ¹ for more information.)

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood malignant testicular germ cell tumor ².

Glossary Terms

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of tumor that begins in the cells that give rise to sperm or eggs. Germ cell tumors can occur almost anywhere in the body and can be either benign or malignant.

The area where the thigh meets the abdomen.

A cut made in the body to perform surgery.

An operation in which the testicle is removed through an incision in the groin.

Cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

PDQ is an online database developed and maintained by the National Cancer Institute. Designed to make the most current, credible, and accurate cancer information available to health professionals and the public, PDQ contains peer-reviewed summaries on cancer treatment, screening, prevention, genetics, complementary and alternative medicine, and supportive care; a registry of cancer clinical trials from around the world; and directories of physicians, professionals who provide genetics services, and organizations that provide cancer care. Most of this information, and more specific information about PDQ, can be found on the NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq. Also called Physician Data Query.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

One of two egg-shaped glands found inside the scrotum that produce sperm and male hormones. Also called a testis.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.