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Stage Explanation
Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV
Recurrent
Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV
Recurrent
Once a germ cell tumor is found (diagnosed), tests will be done to find
out if the germ cell tumor is benign or malignant. If the tumor is malignant,
more tests will be done to find out if the cancer cells have spread to other
parts of the body (staging). In order to stage a germ cell tumor, the patient
may undergo a surgical procedure. Knowing the stage of the disease will assist
the doctor in effectively planning further treatment.
Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors
The following stages are
used for all extracranial germ cell tumors:
Stage I
Cancer has not spread from the tumor to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes and
can be surgically removed with no cancer cells remaining.
Stage II
Cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes, and surgery cannot
remove all cancer cells from the surrounding tissues.
Stage III
Cancer has spread to surrounding tissues, has affected several lymph nodes, is
found in fluid in the abdomen, and surgery cannot remove the entire tumor from
the surrounding tissues.
Stage IV
Cancer has spread to other organs in the body.
Recurrent
Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has
been treated. It may come back in the original site of the tumor or in another
place.
Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor
The following stages are used for ovarian germ cell tumor:
Stage I
Cancer is found in either one or both of the ovaries; it has not spread to the
surrounding tissue. Tumor cells may be present in peritoneal (abdominal) fluid.
Stage II
Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread to the uterus, and/or the fallopian tubes (the pathway used by egg cells moving from the ovary to the
uterus), and/or other body parts within the pelvis (bladder, rectum, vagina). Tumor cells may be present in abdominal fluid.
Stage III
Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread to lymph nodes or to
other body parts inside the abdomen (outside of the pelvis), such as the
surface of the liver or intestine.
Stage IV
Cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread outside the abdomen or
has spread to the inside of the liver.
Recurrent
Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has
been treated. It may come back in the ovary or in another place.
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