Germ cell tumor presenting as sellar mass with suprasellar extension and long history of hypopituitarism.
OBJECTIVE
Primary central nervous system germ cell tumors are rare neoplasms usually located in the pineal and/or suprasellar region. Pure germinomas do not usually secrete beta-human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (beta-HCG) or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and diagnosis is made a few weeks or months after beginning of symptoms.


METHODS
Here we report a case of a pure germinoma in a 20 year-old woman presenting as a sellar mass with suprasellar extension, abnormal serum beta-HCG and a long history of polyuria and polydipsia (4 years), that was initially diagnosed as a pituitary macroadenoma.


CONCLUSIONS
This presentation highlights the importance of thinking in alternative diagnosis to pituitary adenoma when diabetes insipidus is the initial symptom.
de Pinho
Leandro Kasuki Jomori
LK
Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. mgadelha@hucff.ufrj.br
Neto
Leonardo Vieira
LV
Cardão Chimelli
Leila Maria
LM
Gasparetto
Emerson Leandro
EL
Warszawski
Leila
L
do Souto
Antônio Aversa Dutra
AA
Gadelha
Mônica R
MR
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult