title: Late spinal metastases from an isolated pineal region germinoma mimicking a schwannoma.
abstract: A 20-year-old male with a prior history of germinoma presented 8 years after the initial diagnosis with progressive lower back pain. The preoperative diagnosis was schwannoma based on the appearances of a tumor in the lumbosacral region on MRI; however, histologically, a germinoma "drop" metastasis was seen. This report emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up in patients with germinoma. In addition, this patient is unusual in that the preoperative assessment favored schwannoma.
authors: Department of Neuropathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 6825 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA.
authors: Alan L
authors: AL
authors: Morrison
authors: Alice B
authors: AB
authors: Smith
authors: Vallo
authors: V
authors: Benjamin
authors: Jeffrey C
authors: JC
authors: Allen
authors: Elisabeth J
authors: EJ
authors: Rushing