title: Recurrent intracranial germinoma with dissemination along the ventricular catheter: a case report.
abstract: Most recurrences of intracranial pure germinoma occur at the primary site, ventricular wall or subarachnoid space. We report a rare case of intracranial germinoma that recurred along the shunt tube 17 years after prior ventriculoperitoneal shunt and radiotherapy. The recurrent tumor, verified histologically as a pure germinoma, involved the right frontal lobe along the ventricular catheter. In spite of subsequent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the tumor recurred repeatedly. Recurrence after such a long period highlights the necessity of long-term follow up for patients with germinoma. We also discuss possible causes of tumor dissemination along the ventricular catheter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Junta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moroi
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Michiyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D018237:Germinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt