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Radiosensitive neoplasm of young individuals arising in the pineal or suprasellar region with histopathologic and immunohistochemical features similar to testicular seminoma and ovarian dysgerminoma
Germinomas account for about 3% of pediatric intracranial tumors
65% of all CNS germ cell tumors
Twice as common in East Asia and Japan as in the United States
Male predominance
Males in late teens or early 20s in the pineal gland region—most common
Headaches caused by progressive hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension from pineal region tumors obstructing the cerebral aqueduct
Parinaud syndrome (paralysis of upward gaze and convergence) may be seen with tumors that compress or invade the tectal plate
Suprasellar region less common: symptoms include visual field defects, diabetes insipidus, pituitary failure, and delayed growth and sexual maturation (tumors that disrupt the hypothalamic/pituitary axis)
Germinomas are radiosensitive: 10-year survival rate of 85% or greater
Prognosis not as good with mixed germ cell tumors
Germinomas are hyperdense, enhancing lesions of the pineal or suprasellar region
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