Embryonal carcinoma overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Embryonal carcinoma is a type of testicular cancer of germ cell origin. It comprises about twenty-five percent of nonseminoma tumors of germ cell testicular tumors. Even though pure embryonal carcinomas are rare, it has a poor prognosis as it is aggressive tumor, easily metastasizes and has a high malignant potential.
Historical Perspective
There's no specific information available yet on the discovery of embryonal carcinomas. However, the discovery of human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) in 1927 and 1956, respectively, led to a major leap forward in the ability to diagnose, stage, and manage testicular cancer.
Classification
Embryonal carcinomas may be classified based on whether it is in a pure form or a mixed form ( i.e. component of a mixed germ cell tumor); or based on their histological patterns, which includes solid, tubular or glandlike, and papillary.
Pathophysiology
An initiating event that causes fetal gonocytes to undergo abnormal cell division is the most widely accepted theory on the development of germ cell tumors. It is also universally acknowledged that Intratubular germ cell neoplasia of unclassified type (IGCNU) is the precursor lesion of classical seminoma and non-seminomatous germ cell tumours.