title: Clinical and Radiologic Features of Pediatric Basal Ganglia Germ Cell Tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pediatric basal ganglia germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent a rare subset of tumors about which little is known. We aimed to summarize the clinical features and radiological findings of this special subgroup of GCTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2010 to January 2015, 12 pediatric patients with basal ganglia GCTs were treated in our hospital. The clinical features, radiologic findings, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Our institutional diagnostic principle and treatment strategy of this disease were discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GCTs accounted for 25.5% of all the pediatric basal ganglia tumors treated in our hospital. There were 9 male and 3 female patients with a mean age of 11.5 ± 2.1 years. The most common symptom was progressive hemiparesis (n = 9, 75%). The radiologic findings showed that the lesions predominately located in caput of caudate nucleus (n = 9, 75.0%), followed by lenticular nucleus (n = 3, 25.0%). Hemiatrophy was commonly observed (n = 8, 66.7%). Eight patients were diagnosed as having germinomas, and 4 patients as having nongerminomatous germ cell tumors. During the follow-up period, preoperative neurologic dysfunctions improved in 7 patients and remained stable in 3. Two patients developed new onset of neurologic dysfunction after the treatment. Two patients suffered from tumor recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GCTs are not as rare as considered in pediatric basal ganglia tumors. They bear some distinctive clinical and radiologic features, which can help with the accurate diagnosis and successful management of such tumors.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Si
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Intensive Care Unit, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Guopeng
authors: G
authors: Liang
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: juyan4022@sina.com.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Ju
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: You
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D031954:Choriocarcinoma, Non-gestational / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D024162:Second-Look Surgery; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: Basal ganglia; Germ cell tumor; Pediatric