title: Germinoma of the basal ganglia. An 8-year asymptomatic history after detection of abnormality on CT.
abstract: We describe a case of germinoma of the left basal ganglia. An 11-year-old boy, who demonstrated calcification of the left basal ganglia on CT scan following a head injury at the age of 3 years, presented with a weakness of the right upper extremity for 2 months. MRI demonstrated high intensity in the left basal ganglia on a T1-weighted image without enhancement as well as high intensity on a T2-weighted image. Ipsilateral hemiatrophy of the hemisphere and midbrain was also noted. In addition, high intensity in the left internal capsule and cerebral peduncle was demonstrated on T2-weighted image. Surgical specimens obtained by stereotactic biopsy showed germinoma with a two-cell pattern. The patient had remained asymptomatic for 8 years after abnormal calcification was initially detected on CT scan. Ipsilateral hemiatrophy of the hemisphere and midbrain was demonstrated before the onset of weakness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Kobe, Japan. takedake@kk.iij4u.or.jp
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Katsuzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Shigenori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchihashi
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nigami
authors.forename: Kimio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kohmura
mesh_terms: D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography