The short-term effect of low-dose radiation on intracranial germinoma. A pathologic study.
A correlative pathologic and imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) study is reported of a pineal germinoma in a 35-year-old man who died unexpectedly of massive pulmonary embolism on the 8th day during the course of radiation therapy after receiving a total dose of only 1600 cGy. A histologic study of the entire lesion in serial sections revealed no viable tumor cells. The tumor bed was composed of stromal elements with a variable degree of proliferation. The lymphocytic component of the tumor was unaffected by the radiation. This case provided a rare opportunity to show total eradication of tumor cells in a germinoma after a small dose of radiation and supports the notion, based on imaging observations, that histologically proven intracranial pure germinomas may be treated successfully with a much smaller dose of radiation than previously thought.
Aydin
F
F
Department of Pathology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0017.
Ghatak
N R
NR
Radie-Keane
K
K
Kinard
J
J
Land
S D
SD
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003643:Death; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism; D013997:Time Factors