Primary intracranial germ-cell tumors

Abstract

Twelve cases of primary intracranial germ- cell tumors including eleven germinomas and one yolk sac tumor out of 2633 primary intracranial tumors are studied. They were evaluated according to their clinical data based on the medical records including the patient's age and sex, location of the tumor, histopathological examination and prognosis with special reference to the incidence. The incidence of primary intracranial germ-cell tumors was 0.45 % in our series. One case with germinoma, a 15 year-old girl had multiple metastases to the frontobasal region, clavicle, lung and spinal cord both by hematogenous route and through the cerebrospinal fluid. This article not only focuses on the incidence and diagnostic technics of intracranial germ-cell tumors, but also presents a rare case of a germinoma with intracranial and extracranial multiple metastases.