title: Intramedullary spinal cord germinoma expresses the protooncogene c-kit.
abstract: A 33-year-old woman first noticed numbness in the both lower extremities and the numbness gradually extended up to the thorax. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated a mass with moderate and heterogeneous enhancement and peritumoural intramedullary cysts in the spinal cord at the T-1 to T-3 levels. The tumour was explored partially and intra-operative pathological examination demonstrated the so-called "two-cell pattern" typical of germinoma. The margin of the tumour was not clear. Histological examination showed germinoma with strong c-kit protein expression on the tumour cell surface. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy were given following surgery. Her neurological deficits were improved but not resolved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Nakagoma-gun, Yamanashi, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horikoshi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naganuma
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nukui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit