This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published eLetters: Submit a response to this article Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services E-mail this article link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Packer, R. J. Articles by Cooney, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Packer, R. J. Articles by Cooney, K.

Intracranial Germ Cell Tumors

^a Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center; Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; ^b Department of Pediatric Neurology and the Brain Tumor Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; ^c Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

Correspondence: Roger J. Packer, M.D., Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Telephone: 202-884-2120; Fax 202-884-5226; e-mail: rpacker{at}cnmc.org

Intracranial germ cell tumors are a heterogeneous group of lesions which occur in children and adults. Within the classification of intracranial germ cell tumors, there are a variety of different tumor types which carry different prognoses. The diagnosis of an intracranial germ cell tumor usually requires histological information, but a subgroup of tumors will secrete specific tumor markers, including -fetoprotein and ß-human chorionic gonadotropin, which may obviate the need for surgical intervention.

The management of intracranial germ cell tumors in both children and adults remains unsettled. Germinomas have a good prognosis, as over 90% of patients can be effectively treated with radiation therapy. The dose and volume of radiation therapy needed for disease control is not well established, and controversy exists concerning the need for whole brain or craniospinal radiation therapy for localized tumors. Germinomas are also chemosensitive and recent reports suggest that the dose and volume of radiation therapy required for disease control can be lessened with the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy.

The outcome for patients with nongerminomatous germ cell tumors is less favorable. Radiation therapy alone will result in disease control in 40%-60% of patients. The addition of chemotherapy to radiation therapy may improve the rate of survival.

Key Words. Intracranial germ cell tumor • Germinoma • Mixed germ cell tumor • Nongerminomatous germ cell tumor • Chemotherapy • Radiation therapy • Embryonal carcinoma • Teratoma

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. N. Willis, S. S. Mallozzi, S. J. Rodig, K. M. Cronk, S. L. McArdel, T. Caron, G. S. Pinkus, L. Lovato, K. L. Shampain, D. E. Anderson, et al. The Microenvironment of Germ Cell Tumors Harbors a Prominent Antigen-Driven Humoral Response J. Immunol., March 1, 2009; 182(5): 3310 - 3317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A Kaltsas, J. Evanson, A. Chrisoulidou, and A. B Grossman The diagnosis and management of parasellar tumours of the pituitary Endocr. Relat. Cancer, December 1, 2008; 15(4): 885 - 903. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Ferguson, B. Ford, and A. M. Gronowski Method Validation for Cerebral Spinal Fluid Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Measurement with the Advia Centaur(R) Clin. Chem., August 1, 2008; 54(8): 1408 - 1409. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Echevarria, J. Fangusaro, and S. Goldman Pediatric Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors: A Review Oncologist, June 1, 2008; 13(6): 690 - 699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Banks and S. J. Brown AJR Teaching File: Solid Masses of the Pineal Region. Am. J. Roentgenol., March 1, 2006; 186(3 Suppl): S233 - S235. [Full Text] [PDF]