Germ cell tumors (GCTs) most often arise in the gonads but some develop extragonadally. The aim of this study was to examine sex- and race-specific trends in incidence and survival of gonadal (GGCTs) and extragonadal GCTs (EGCTs) in the US from 1973 to 2007. We also examined the topographic distribution of EGCTs by race and sex. We estimated age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates and 5-year relative survival rates (RSR) of GCTs using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (SEER 9 registries). GCTs and their topographic sites were identified using ICD-O morphology and topography codes. Of 21,170 GCTs among males, 5.7% were extragonadal (whites 5.5%; blacks 16.3%). Of 2,093 GCTs among females, 39.3% were extragonadal (whites, 36.9%; blacks 51.0%). The incidence of GGCT was much higher among white (56.3/1,000,000) than black males (10.0/1,000,000) while there was no difference in incidence between white and black females (3.2/1,000,000). The rates of EGCT among men and women of both races were similar (range:1.9 – 3.4/1,000,000). The most frequent extragonadal sites were mediastinum among males and placenta among females. The 5-year RSR of testicular GCT was higher among whites (97%) than blacks (90%), as was the 5-year RSR of ovarian GCT (whites, 92%; blacks 85%). In general, the 5-year RSRs of EGCTs were lower than the 5-year RSRs of GGCTs. The different incidence trends of GGCTs and EGCTs and distinct age-specific incidence patterns by anatomic site of EGCTs suggests that GGCTs and EGCTs may have different etiologies.

Background Gonadal (GGCT) and extragonal germ cell tumors [GCT (EGCT)] are thought to originate from primordial germ cells. In contrast to well reported population-based data of GGCTs in males, analyses of GGCTs in females and EGCTs in both sexes remain limited. Methods In a pooling project of nine population-based cancer registries in Germany of the years 1998–2008, 16,883 GCTs and their topographical sites were identified using ICD-O morphology and topography for those aged 15 years and older. We estimated age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates. Results Among males, the incidence of testicular GCTs increased over time. In contrast, there was no increase in the incidence of EGCTs. Among females, rates of ovarian GCTs were stable, while rates of EGCTs declined over time. The most frequent extragonadal sites were mediastinum among males and placenta among females. Conclusions Our results underline different incidence trends and distinct age-specific incidence patterns of GGCTs and EGCTs, as reported recently by several population-based registries. The differences suggest that GGCTs and EGCTs may have different etiologies.

Comparisons of incidence estimates of testicular cancer subtypes beyond seminoma and non-seminoma are virtually missing in the epidemiologic literature. We analysed incidence data from population-based German cancer registries to provide subtype-specific incidences of testicular cancer. We pooled data from nine cancer registries from 1998 to 2003. We estimated incidence and mortality time trends of West and East Germany. Incidence and mortality were standardized by the European standard population. The annual percentage incidence change from 1961 through 1989 was 4.9% in East Germany and 3.0% from 1970 through 2004 in Saarland. Incidence increases were the most pronounced among adolescents and young men aged 15-49 years. In 1998-2003, the seminoma incidence rate was 5.1 per 100,000; among non-seminomas, the rates were the highest for malignant teratoma (1.6 per 100,000), followed by embryonal carcinoma (1.2 per 100,000). Testicular lymphomas were rare (0.1 per 100,000). The incidence of testicular cancer among children aged 0-14 years was nearly constant from 1987 through 2004. Majority of these cancers were yolk sac tumours (0.1 per 100,000). In East and West Germany, rates of embryonal carcinoma in the early periods were considerably lower than the rates of malignant teratoma. In the most recent periods, rates of embryonal carcinoma became quite similar to the rates of malignant teratoma. The mortality decline started in West Germany roughly 12 years earlier than in East Germany. The later start of the mortality decline in East Germany may be because of a later introduction of platinum-based chemotherapy compared to West Germany.

HSLE is a rare occurrence in patients with heroin abuse. The number of undetected cases in drug-related deaths may be high. Clinical appearance may be easily mistaken for withdrawal symptoms.

The total number of thyroid surgeries due to benign goiter has decreased substantially in Germany from 2005 through 2011. Despite changes in the resectional strategy with an increase in the total number thyroidectomies and a decrease of subtotal resections, the rates for postoperative hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord palsy have decreased. The complication rates for total thyroidectomy, however, are still higher compared to subtotal resection. An individualized risk-oriented surgical approach is warranted.