Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor Treatment Cost in India

Males are substantially more likely than females to develop extragonadal germ cell tumors, which are often diagnosed in young adulthood. They are aggressive tumors that can develop almost anywhere, although their usual origin is in the midline (mediastinum, retroperitoneum, or pineal gland). By thoroughly inspecting the testicles and using ultrasonography, the gonadal origin should be ruled out. Any patient with a poorly defined epithelial malignancy should be evaluated for the diagnosis, especially if they are young and have midline tumors. The cost of Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor Treatment in India is reasonable when compared to other developed nations. The success may be partly credited to the oncologist and the surgeons’ expertise and the cutting-edge medical technology utilized in the best Indian facilities. In addition to these benefits, India is quite popular due to its inexpensive costs without reducing clinical standards.

What is an Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor?

Extragonadal germ cell tumors are composed of cells that arise early in a fetus’s development (unborn baby). Germ cells normally travel from a location around the center of the body to the ovaries or testes in a developing baby (gonads). There, they transform into sperm in men and eggs in females. Tumors can develop outside the gonads when cells that are intended to develop sperm or eggs instead move to other regions of the body. They are frequently known as extragonadal germ cell cancers for this reason. They often start in one of the following locations: the lungs, lower back, rear of the belly, or center of the brain, close to the tiny pineal gland.

Teratomas and malignancies are both possible in extragonadal germ cell tumors. The following are examples of seminoma and nonseminoma germ cell cancers, which belong to the latter group:

• Embryonal carcinomas.
• Malignant teratomas.
• Endodermal sinus tumors.
• Choriocarcinomas.
• Mixed germ cell tumors.

Boys and females are equally affected by EGCTs in children. However, the great majority of malignant cancers in adulthood are in males. Under a microscope, the cells of various tumor types have varied appearances. Each has a unique prognosis and course of therapy. Radiation therapy is the basis of a treatment since seminomas frequently respond well to it. Although chemotherapy is frequently used to treat non-seminomas, it can also be utilized to treat seminomas.

What are the Symptoms of an Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor?

For the symptoms of an Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor, it can depend on the location of the tumor. 

1. Back of the abdomen: Kidney or rear issues may result from EGCTs at the back of the abdomen. The bulk (which may exert pressure on the tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder) On occasion, a physical examination will reveal the abdominal mass.
2. Mid-chest: EGCTs in this region might induce fever, weight loss, nausea, coughing, chest discomfort, and breathing issues. Additionally, patients may have enlarged veins in their necks and chest. Men in their 20s are most frequently diagnosed with these malignancies.
3. Lower back: EGCTs here often manifest as a lump in the buttocks or lower abdomen. Compared to adults, babies and young children tend to have them diagnosed more frequently. The tumor may make it difficult for the patient to walk, urinate, or poop.
4. Brain (pineal gland): Germ cell tumors can obstruct the flow of fluid around the brain and spinal cord and put pressure on certain areas of the brain. This may lead to:

• Difficulty walking
• Inability to look up
• Uncontrolled eye movements
• Double vision.
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Memory loss
• Lack of energy

A youngster who has a hormone-producing tumor could experience puberty sooner than usual. Rare pineal germ cell tumors almost exclusively affect adults under the age of 40.

How is  Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor Diagnosed?

Due to the rarity of EGCTs, your doctor will probably inquire about other prevalent medical diseases that might be the source of your symptoms. For instance, your doctor could suspect a respiratory infection if you have a cough, fever, and breathing problems. It’s likely that unless your doctor orders an x-ray or scans of the area where you experience symptoms, the real cause of your problem won’t be revealed. The location where you are experiencing symptoms will receive specific focus during your doctor’s examination. Your doctor could do a pelvic check on the woman and a rectal exam if you have signs of a lower-back malignancy. He or she will perform a neurological examination to see whether you have signs of a brain tumor.

The location of the tumor will be found by the diagnostic tests your doctor orders:

• Physical examination and medical history: An examination of the body to check for general health indicators, including looking for illness indications like tumors or anything else that looks out of the ordinary. It is possible to look for lumps, swelling, or discomfort in the testicles. Additionally, a history of the patient’s health practices, diseases, and treatments in the past will be recorded.
• CT scan (CAT scan): A process that creates a number of finely detailed images of inside body regions from various perspectives. In order to create images, an X-ray machine is connected to a computer. Several dyes can be ingested or injected into veins to enhance the visibility of organs or tissues. Various names for this process exist, including computed tomography and computerized axial tomography. A CT scan and a PET scan may occasionally be performed simultaneously. In order to locate malignant tumor cells in the body, a PET scan is performed. A vein receives a tiny injection of radioactive glucose (sugar). The PET scanner spins around the body to provide an image of the areas of the body where glucose is being utilized. Since malignant tumor cells are more active and absorb more glucose than healthy cells do, they appear brighter in the image. A PET-CT scan is one that is performed simultaneously with a CT scan.
• Chest x-ray: An image of the organs and bones within the chest. An x-ray is a specific kind of energy beam that may photograph inside organs by passing through the body and onto film.
• Serum tumor marker test: A process to evaluate the levels of certain chemicals produced in the blood by organs, tissues, or tumor cells inside the body. When discovered in elevated amounts in the blood, some chemicals are associated with particular forms of cancer. They are referred to as tumor markers. Extragonadal germ cell tumors can be found using the three tumor markers listed below:

• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) 
• Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG).
• Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

The tumor’s seminoma or nonseminoma status is determined by the tumor marker blood levels.

• Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so that a pathologist may examine them under a microscope for signs of malignancy. The extragonadal germ cell tumor’s location determines the kind of biopsy that is performed.
• Excisional biopsy: the complete excision of a tissue mass.
• Incisional biopsy: The excision of a portion of a lump or tissue sample.
• Core biopsy: Using a large needle, tissue is removed.

A tiny needle is used to remove tissue or fluid during a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Your doctor could evaluate your blood levels due to the link between EGCTs and a rare blood malignancy. The diagnostic process may also include a bone marrow examination. Blood tests to measure AFP and beta-hCG levels can usually assist to identify the tumor type in patients (seminoma or non-seminoma). The levels of AFP and beta-hCG in spinal fluid may also be assessed in patients with brain (pineal) malignancies. A needle is used to drain the spinal cord’s fluid. A spinal tap is the name of this technique (lumbar puncture).

Helpful – PET Scan Cost in India