Histopathological Profile of Germ Cell Tumors in Kinshasa: About a Series of 30 Cases at the University Clinics of Kinshasa and Review of the Literature

Context and objective: The term (Germ cell tumors) designates a polymorphic group of neoplasms all deriving from primordial germ cells in both sexes. They belong to the group of embryonal tumors. These tumors are frequently studied in gonadal locations. Given the paucity of literature on all of these tumors in our country, we initiated this study in order to clarify their epidemiological and histological profile. Methods: Our study is descriptive, based on the archives of biopsies (blocks and slides) recorded in the laboratory of the pathological anatomy department of the University Clinics of Kinshasa. Results: In the period of our study, 3168 cases of tumors were diagnosed among which 30 cases were germ cell tumors, with a frequency of 0.94%, the sex ratio of 0.5, the average age of 22 years, the standard deviation of 17.56 and the minimum age of 0 and maximum 71 years. The P-value was very significant (0.0015%) and the confidence interval for the mean is between 16 and 29 years old. The non-seminomatous histological subtype was the most represented (83.3% in both sexes). Benign teratoma was represented at 60% and gonadal locations 53% compared to 47% for extragonadal locations, where the sacrococcygeal location predominated with 36%. Conclusion: TG is more frequent in gonadal locations, but our study shows a frequency of 47% of extragonadal locations, which is not negligible. This should challenge us to improve the diagnosis and management of TG