The Role of Alfa Fetoprotein in the Risk Management of Pediatric Germ Cell Tumors

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are a rare group of neoplasms that arise from pluripotent stem cells. They display variable behavior depending on age, histology, primary tumor site, and stage of disease. In pediatric GCTs serum alfa fetoprotein (AFP) is the most frequently used marker for diagnosis and monitoring, although it is not specific only for these diseases. In this review, we discuss extracranial GCTs and the usefulness of AFP in their management.