title: Primary medulla oblongata germinomas: two case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: An intracranial germinoma is a tumor that is sensitive to radiotherapy. As medulla oblongata germinomas are extremely rare, determining an accurate preoperative diagnosis is challenging. Two cases of medulla oblongata lesions were surgically treated, and a postoperative diagnosis of germinoma was determined in both of the cases. The tumor in one patient completely resolved after a treatment course consisting of surgical intervention, radiotherapy and chemotherapy; the other patient, who did not receive any type of adjuvant treatment after surgery, suffered from tumor relapse and died from pneumonia 8 months following surgery. A preoperative diagnosis of medulla oblongata germinoma is difficult because of the lack of specific clinical signs and symptoms. If the correct diagnosis is reached, patients can have a favorable prognosis with proper evaluation and treatment. An invasive operation can potentially lesion and impair the function of the medulla oblongata, which is fatal to the patient.
authors.forename: Shuyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Junting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, NO,6 Tiantan Xili Dongcheng district, Beijing 100050, P R China. zhangliweittyy@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D055815:Young Adult