classification

Last reviewed 12/2022

classification of germ cell tumours

There are two major classifications of germ cell tumours

• the British Testicular Tumour Panel (BTTP) classification
• the World Health Organization (WHO) classification (1)

Testicular tumours - approximate percentages with respect to incidences of different testicular tumours

Benign tumours include:

• Leydig or interstitial cell tumour 1-3%
  • Leydig cell tumor is a testicular tumor with a low incidence accounting for 1-3% of testicular neoplasms
    • manifests in the preadolescent or in the older people. It is a non-germ cell tumor of the testis and is included in the group of specialized gonadal stromal neoplasms. The frequent clinical presentation is that of a testicular nodule with or without endocrine manifestations.
• Sertoli cell tumour < 1%

Malignant tumours include:

• seminoma - peak incidence 30-40 years - 40%
• teratoma - peak incidence 20-30 years - 30%
• mixed teratoma-seminoma - peak 25-35 years -15%
• lymphoma - usually, non-Hodgkin's type with peak from 60-70 years <7%

Reference:

• (1) SIGN (March 2011).Management of adult testicular germ cell tumours
• (2) Tichoo SK, Tamboli P, Warner NE, Amin MB. Testicular and paratesticular tumors. In; Weidner N, Cote RJ, Suster S, Weiss LM, editors. Modern Surgical Pathology. Philadelphia: Saunders, Elsevier Science; 2003. p. 1215-56.