To elucidate the clinicopathological characteristics of the intracranial germ cell tumors, retrospectively examined were 13 cases that were histologically confirmed in Asan Medical Center between January 1990 and August 1992. Germ cell tumors of
the
central nervous system consisted of 10 cases of germinomas, one case of endodermal sinus tumor, one embryonal carcinoma, and one mixed germ cell tumor(immature teratoma + choriocarcinoma + embryonal carcinoma).
All the germinomas presented during the first three decades of life, and they were most common in the second decade with median age of 12 and were equally divided between the sexes. Germinomas were located almost exclusively in midline
structures,
particularly suprasellar area and/or paineal region. Occasionally, germinomas occurred away from the midline in such sites as the thalamus or basal ganglia. In the suprasellar location the triad of diabetes insipid-us, visual defect and
hypopituitarism
was typically produced. Cytological examinations of CSF or intraoperative aspiration were much useful in the diagnosis of germinomas.
Histological features of the germ cell tumors were generally agreed with serum or CSF levels of tumor markers such as HCG, AFP and CEA, However, two of the germinomas disclosed discrepancy between them. Therefore, stressed was the importance of
collective consideration for both tissue diagnosis and tumor marker studies.
Most germ cell tumors responded to radiation therapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy following initial surgical biopsy, at least for the short-term follow-up periods.
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