We present two patients with testicular cancer and extragonadal germ cell tumor respectively in whom neurological symptoms due to metastases preceded the correct diagnosis. Testicular cancer and extragonadal germ cell tumor are today curable malignancies even when distant metastases are present at diagnosis. The diagnosis of germ cell tumor should be considered whenever a young man presents with metastases of uncertain origin, and all histological specimens should be revised with the diagnosis of germ cell tumor in mind.