title: Primary intracranial germ cell tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary intracranial germ cell tumors are rare (ICGCTs) and usually localized in the pineal and suprasellar regions of the brain. They are divided into histologic types: Germinoma, teratoma choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and malignant mixed germ cell tumors (MMGCTs). Neuroimaging evaluation is useful to distinguish between the types of ICGCTs. Germinoma is highly sensitive to radiotherapy or/and chemotherapy, and is potentially curable without surgery. MMGCTs are treated with the combination of chemotherapy and radiation, with a poorer prognosis. ICGCTs warrant correct pre-operative diagnosis in order to decide on appropriate management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings in three cases of primary intracranial germ-cell tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cases of intracranial germ cell tumors inclusive of both genders and all brain regions were retrieved from the archives of the Anatomical Pathology Department at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah between the years, 1995-2011, through a computerized search.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on histological examination, they were respectively diagnosed as MMGCTs (two cases) and germinoma. Clinical, radiological, pathological characteristics and immunohistochemical profile of the three ICGCTs are presented along with the review of recent literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ICGCTs are rare tumors affecting males more than females, and at the end of three years follow-up in the present study, treatment morbidity appears to be low with no recurrence observed among surviving patients, indicating that suprasellar and basal ganglia ICGCTs may have a favorable prognosis regardless of histological type. Pineal MMGCTs may have an aggressive course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University and Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shagufta Tahir
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Mufti
authors.forename: Awatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamal
keywords: Germinoma; immunohistochemical; intracranial; mixed; pineal
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