title: Occurrence of basal ganglia germ cell tumors without a mass.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case series in which basal ganglia calcifications without mass effect proved to be germ cell tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, biopsy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recognition of clinical syndrome and radiological features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had progressive hemiparesis, and 1 patient also had frontal lobe dementia. Imaging demonstrated progressive asymmetric signal abnormality with basal ganglia calcification and associated brainstem atrophy. Fludeoxyglucose F 18-positron emission tomography showed hypometabolism in contrast to malignant glioma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Germ cell tumor should be considered in patients with an indolently progressive neurological course, particularly if basal ganglia calcification is present with or without enhancement, asymmetric brain atrophy, or a mass.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, British Columbia Children's Hospital and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almubarak
authors.forename: Yee-Chiung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steinbok
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hendson
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poskitt
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nadel
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hukin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D001284:Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011878:Radiotherapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18