Suprasellar germinoma with shunt metastasis: report of a case with an immunohistochemical characterization of the lymphocyte subpopulations.
A case of suprasellar germinoma metastatic to the peritoneum 3 years after the placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is presented. The excised metastatic germinoma was analyzed immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies against human lymphocyte subpopulations. Approximately 80% of the lymphocytes expressed pan-T, or Leu-1, surface antigens, and 20% were B1+, or B cells. Approximately 30% of T cells were Leu-2+, or cytotoxic and suppressor cells; 70% were Leu-3+, or helper cells. The large number of T cells is consistent with their role in cell-mediated immunity; their subpopulation ratio approximated that of the circulation. The literature pertinent to germinoma shunt metastasis is also reviewed.
D000293:Adolescent; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D012658:Sella Turcica; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed