Value of tumor markers in the treatment of endodermal sinus tumors and choriocarcinomas in the pineal region.
A case of embryonal carcinoma in the pineal region of a 17-year-old boy is presented. The tumor included elements of choriocarcinoma and endodermal sinus tumor, and the use of human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein as tumor markers is discussed. The markers were demonstrated both within the tumor and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. The patient was treated with a postoperative program of irradiation and cancer chemotherapy, and at follow-up examination 20 months after operation no signs of residual tumor were present. It is suggested that human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein should be measured in the blood and CSF before the treatment of midline tumors.
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008649:Mesonephroma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D010870:Pineal Gland; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins