From 1979 to 1991 56 patients with extragonadal germ cell tumours (EGCT) received cisplatin based chemotherapy. From 16 patients with seminomatous EGCT 13 achieved complete remission (CR) with chemotherapy alone, 2 with additional radiotherapy with final CR rate of 94%. 5 (31%) patients developed relapses and at a median follow-up of 38 (5-103) months 11 (69%) are alive and 10 (62%) have no evidence of disease (NED). Only 7 patients with non-seminomatous EGCT reached CR with chemotherapy alone and 8 more with additional chemotherapy or surgery. Overall CR was 37% and 3 (20%) relapses have been observed. At a median follow-up of 26 (3-114) months 14 (35%) are alive and remain free of disease, 26 (65%) have died. By univariate analysis seminomatous EGCT patients had a significantly greater likelihood of achieving a CR, for non-seminomatous EGCT BEP induction chemotherapy was superior to VAB-6, and NSEGCT patients with serum levels > 2000 ng/ml had worse prognosis. Current staging systems are insufficient to predict the treatment outcome in EGCT.