Suprasellar Malignant Germ Cell Tumors In Children

Abstract

Introduction The suprasellar location is the second common site for germ cell tumors during childhood consisting of 30 to 40% of cases. They are rare and present with diabetes insipidus (DI) and visual symptoms. We review our personal series of suprasellar malignant germ cell tumor (SMGCT) to define optimum therapy. Methods From 1994 to 2006, 27 children with SMGCT were diagnosed and treated at our institution. All patients had neuroimaging including CT and MRI. All had tumor marker, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and beta-HCG (b-HCG), in both serum and CSF. Results The common presenting symptoms were DI (25), headaches (11), and visual disturbances (7). Tumors were in suprasellar/intrasellar location (14), concurrent suprasellar and pineal location (11), and concurrent suprasellar and basal ganglia location (2). CSF disseminations were noted in the ventricle (4) and by positive lumbar CSF cytology (2). Tumor markers were negative for both in 12, positive for AFP in 6, positive for b-HCG in 8, and positive for ...