title: Solitary Langerhans cell histiocytosis located in the neurohypophysis with a positive titer HCG-β in the cerebrospinal fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG-β) is considered to be a useful tumor marker for germ cell tumors (GCTs); however, various tumors other than GCTs, including cystic pituitary adenomas, Rathke's cleft cysts, and craniopharyngiomas, were reported to express HCG-β.
  
  
  METHODS
  We herein present the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with polyuria and had a solitary lesion in the neurohypophysis with a positive HCG-β titer in the cerebrospinal fluid. Under a preoperative diagnosis of germinoma, a biopsy was performed from the posterior pituitary lobe via the transsphenoidal endoscopic approach and the histological diagnosis was revealed to be Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of a slightly positive HCG-β titer in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cannot exclude the possibility of LCH, and we strongly recommend a histological diagnosis for the diagnosis of a solitary neurohypophysial lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. y-kinoshita@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiyuki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Vishwa Jeet
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Amatya
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, 1-5-54 Ujinakanda, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology and Neuro-oncology Program, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurisu
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
keywords: Diabetes insipidus; Germinoma; HCG-β; Langerhans cell histiocytosis; Neurohypophysis