PEDIATRIC SURGICAL ONCOLOGY .7. GERM-CELL TUMORS

Malignant germ cell tumours occur in children in widely differing site s in the trunk and cranium. The role of surgery in the treatment regim ens has been made more definitive by advances in chemotherapy. For bot h the surgeon and the medical oncologist, serum tumour markers are rel iable guides to the progress of disease and success of treatment. Whil e correct surgical management alone is sufficient for a high cure rate of testicular tumours, good results for tumours in other sites are be ing obtained by careful planning of biopsy, chemotherapy and surgical excision.