Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Neoplasms > Neoplasms by Histologic Type > Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal > Germinoma Terms and Definitions




Germinoma

Medical Definition: A malignant neoplasm of the germinal tissue of the gonads, mediastinum, or pineal region such as seminomas. The degree of differentiation to form adult cell types varies. The germ cell tumors of infants and children reflect the transformation of primordial cells that have failed to migrate to their predestined location. Germinomas are uniform in appearance, consisting of large, round cells with vesicular nuclei and clear or finely granular eosinophilic-staining cytoplasm. (Stedman, 265th ed; from DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, pp1642-3)
Guide Notes: /blood supply /chem /second /secret /ultrastruct permitted; coord IM with precoord organ/neopl term (IM)
Previously Indexed: Dysgerminoma (1966-1993),Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal (1972-1993),Pinealoma (1966-1993),Teratoma (1966-1993)
Germinoma Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Dysgerminoma - A malignant ovarian neoplasm, thought to be derived from primordial germ cells of the sexually undifferentiated embryonic gonad. It is the counterpart of the classical seminoma of the testis, to which it is both grossly and histologically identical. Dysgerminomas comprise 16% of all germ cell tumors but are rare before the age of 10, although nearly 50% occur before the age of 20. They are generally considered of low-grade malignancy but may spread if the tumor extends through its capsule and involves lymph nodes or blood vessels. (Dorland, 27th ed; DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1646)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Seminoma - A radiosensitive, malignant neoplasm of the testis, thought to be derived from primordial germ cells of the sexually undifferentiated embryonic gonad. There are three variants: classical (typical), the most common type; anaplastic; and spermatocytic. The classical seminoma is composed of fairly well differentiated sheets or cords of uniform polygonal or round cells (seminoma cells), each cell having abundant clear cytoplasm, distinct cell membranes, a centrally placed round nucleus, and one or more nucleoli. In the female, a grossly and histologically identical neoplasm, known as dysgerminoma, occurs. (Dorland, 27th ed)

Germinoma Medical Definitions and Terms

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