[Diagnosis and radiotherapy of germinomas arising in basal ganglia and thalamus].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the clinical characteristic and radiotherapeutic effect of germinomas arising in basal ganglia and thalamus.


METHODS
The clinical data of 13 cases were reviewed retrospectively. All cases were pathologic diagnosis through stereotactic biopsy. Gamma-knife or ordinary irradiation were 2 cases respectively and the combined therapy with interstitial brachytherapy as foundation were 9 cases.


RESULTS
All cases were male, median age of 16.1 years. Hemiparesis and ataxia were major symptoms, some cases were accompanied with precocious puberty. Imaging manifested intratumoral cystic components represented 76.9% of all lesions, calcification represented 30.8%, ipsilateral cerebral and brain stem hemiatrophy represented 46.2%, cerebral white matter invasion through internal capsule or corpus callosum represented 30.8%. One case died because of late complication and 12 cases had achieved satisfied therapeutic effect (the mean followed-up period was 40.6 months). Tumor-control were effective.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical manifestation and imaging characteristics are helpful to diagnosis. Stereotactic biopsy make the affirmatory diagnosis. Operative total-removal is impossible because of deep location, neighbour of vital structure and invasion. The combined therapy with interstitial brachytherapy was effective.
Wang
Ya-ming
YM
Department of Neurosurgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100037, China.
Tian
Zeng-min
ZM
Yu
Xin
X
Xu
Yong-ge
YG
Wang
Hong-wei
HW
Sun
Jun-zhao
JZ
Li
Zhi-chao
ZC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001479:Basal Ganglia; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013788:Thalamus; D016896:Treatment Outcome