Germ Cell Tumor - Childhood: Diagnosis

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 05/2021

ON THIS PAGE: You will find a list of common tests, procedures, and scans that doctors use to find the cause of a medical problem. Use the menu to see other pages.

Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose, a tumor. They also do tests to learn if a tumor has spread to another part of the body from where it started. If this happens, it is called metastasis. For example, imaging tests can show if the tumor has spread. Imaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best.

For most types of tumors, a biopsy is the only sure way for the doctor to know whether an area of the body has cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue for testing in a laboratory. If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis.

How germ cell tumors are diagnosed

There are many tests used for diagnosing a germ cell tumor. Not all tests described here will be used for every child. Your child’s doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test:

  • The type of tumor suspected

  • Your child's signs and symptoms

  • Your child's age and medical condition

  • The results of earlier medical tests

In addition to a physical examination, the following tests may be used to diagnose a germ cell tumor:

  • Biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that a germ cell tumor is present, but only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis and determine if the tumor is benign or cancerous. A pathologist then analyzes the sample(s). A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. The pathologist will examine the tissue sample for abnormalities in the cells. This is called a histologic examination. The pathologist will also examine the tissue sample for signs of cancer. This is called a cytologic examination.

  • Blood tests

    • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). A germ cell tumor may cause high levels of AFP. AFP is a protein that increases in the mother’s blood during pregnancy and has a half-life of 5 to 7 days. It is produced by the unborn child’s (fetal) liver and yolk sac, a pouch that protects the embryo early in development. AFP is also a tumor marker in people with certain germ cell tumors, particularly testicular cancer. A tumor marker is a substance found in higher-than-normal amounts in the blood, urine, or body of people with certain kinds of tumors. The levels of AFP in the blood may be measured to monitor disease progress and to determine how well treatment for a germ cell tumor is working.

    • Beta HCG. A germ cell tumor may also cause high levels of a hormone called beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Pregnancy can cause high levels of beta hCG in the blood. High levels of beta hCG in someone who is not pregnant could mean that a germ cell tumor is present.

  • Ultrasound. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of the internal organs. A tumor produces different echoes of the sound waves than normal tissue. When the sound waves are bounced back to a computer, creating images, the doctor can locate a mass inside the body.

  • Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. A CT scan takes pictures of the inside of the body using x-rays taken from different angles. A computer combines these pictures into a detailed, 3-dimensional image that shows any abnormalities or tumors. A CT scan can be used to measure the tumor’s size. Sometimes, a special dye called a contrast medium is given before the scan to provide better detail on the image. This dye can be injected into a patient’s vein or given as a pill or liquid to swallow.

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body. MRI can be used to measure the tumor’s size. A special dye called a contrast medium is given before the scan to create a clearer picture. This dye can be injected into a patient’s vein or given as a pill or liquid to swallow.

After diagnostic tests are done, your child’s doctor will review all of the results with you. If a germ cell tumor is diagnosed, these results also help the doctor describe the tumor. This is called staging.

The next section in this guide is Stages. It explains the system doctors use to describe the extent of the disease. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.