They account for only one to two percent of cancers diagnosed in children under 15 years of age. They are often found in the gonads, which are the sexual organs, both testes or ovaries, but they are also found in the tailbone, chest and abdomen. All of these tumors come from embryonic tissue during prenatal development. The symptoms of germ cell tumors vary, depending on the location of the tumor. Three common types of germ cell tumors are teratomas, ovarian tumors and testicular tumors.
Teratomas are the most common germ cell tumor.
They can have cystic and solid parts. This type of tumor occurs more frequently in infant females. The most common sign is a large external mass that can appear as a bulge in the back or the abdomen. If the tumor is internal and cannot be seen, some symptoms are urinary frequency, constipation and weakness in the legs. Ovarian tumors in children are most common during adolescence.