title: Controversies in the management of intracranial germinomas.
abstract: Intracranial germinomas are uncommon tumors. In the past, patients have traditionally been diagnosed with a trial of focal radiotherapy without biopsy. If the tumor was radiosensitive, it was presumed to be a germinoma. Because of the minimal morbidity and mortality associated with microsurgical techniques, almost all patients now have a histologic diagnosis and can be treated appropriately. Radiation therapy has been employed for the past three decades in the curative management of this disease. The long-term results have been excellent; however, current approaches have explored the possibility of reducing or even eliminating radiation therapy. This article provides a brief overview of intracranial germinomas and explores the controversies in the surgical, radiotherapeutic, and chemotherapeutic management of this tumor.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Paulino
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mohideen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018237:Germinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents