Primary intramedullary spinal cord germinoma: case report.
We describe an 18-year-old male with an intramedullary spinal cord germinoma in whom the diagnosis was made two years after onset of a progressive myelopathy. Spinal cord germinomas are rare, most having been described in young Japanese adults. They often respond well to radiotherapy. A unique feature of this case was the prolonged time interval between onset of the patient's symptoms and ability to visualize the mass radiographically. A further interesting finding was the infiltrative nature of the tumor surrounding residual spinal cord neurons.
Chute
Dennis J
DJ
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. dchute@mednet.ucla.edu
Burton
Eric C
EC
Klement
Ivan A
IA
Frazee
John G
JG
Vinters
Harry V
HV
D000293:Adolescent; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy