Conditions
Stages of Childhood Germ Cell Tumors
The stages of childhood germ cell tumors are best described according to the location of the tumor:
| Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor |
Stage I Cancer has not spread from the tumor to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes and can be surgically removed with no cancer cells remaining. |
Stage II Cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes, and surgery cannot remove all cancer cells from the surrounding tissues. |
Stage III Cancer has spread to surrounding tissues, has affected several lymph nodes, is found in fluid in the abdomen, and surgery cannot remove the entire tumor from the surrounding tissues. |
Stage IV Cancer has spread to other organs in the body. |
Recurrent The cancer has returned after it has been treated; may return in the same place as the original tumor or in another place. |
| Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor |
Stage I Cancer is found in either one or both of the ovaries; it has not spread to the surrounding tissue. Tumor cells may be present in peritoneal (abdominal) fluid. |
Stage II Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread to the uterus, and/or the fallopian tubes (the pathway used by egg cells moving from the ovary to the uterus), and/or other body parts within the pelvis (bladder, rectum, vagina). Tumor cells may be present in abdominal fluid. |
Stage III Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread to lymph nodes or to other body parts inside the abdomen (outside of the pelvis), such as the surface of the liver or intestine. |
Stage IV Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread outside the abdomen or has spread to the inside of the liver. |
Recurrent The cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the ovary or in another place. |