Gonadal tumours

Abstract Tumours of the gonads in children are uncommon and may be benign or malignant. Surgical excision is the mainstay of management of localized tumours. Chemotherapy is indicated for incompletely excised malignant tumours, and overall is associated with a high cure rate and good outcomes. Tumour markers are often informative and a useful aid in management. Current research efforts are focussed on decreasing the morbidity of therapy with optimized patient selection for gonad-sparing and chemotherapy-minimized approaches, based on molecular findings and international data harmonization platforms. Classification of gonadal tumours is complex, with some variation in nomenclature based on whether the tumour is arising in a testis, an ovary, or an extragonadal site.