An unusual anatomic and geographic location of primary germinoma of the fourth ventricle

Abstract Intracranial germinoma is most commonly found in the pineal and suprasellar regions. The medulla oblongata and fourth ventricle are rare sites of primary germinoma, with only 12 previous patients reported, all from the Far East. To our knowledge, we report the first patient from Europe. A 2...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical neuroscience 2013-11, Vol.20 (11), p.1620-1622
Main Authors: Khan, Akbar A, Kirkman, Matthew A, Anderson, Caroline, Jaunmuktane, Zane, Morris, Robert C, Kitchen, Neil D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Brain Neoplasms - pathology
Brain Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Brain Neoplasms - surgery
Europe
Female
Fourth ventricle
Fourth Ventricle - pathology
Germinoma
Germinoma - pathology
Germinoma - radiotherapy
Germinoma - surgery
Humans
Medulla
Neurology
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Summary:Abstract Intracranial germinoma is most commonly found in the pineal and suprasellar regions. The medulla oblongata and fourth ventricle are rare sites of primary germinoma, with only 12 previous patients reported, all from the Far East. To our knowledge, we report the first patient from Europe. A 25-year-old female of Afro-Caribbean origin presented with several weeks of worsening migraines, dizziness, tachycardia and veering to the right whilst walking. MRI revealed a lesion in the fourth ventricle, which was treated with surgical debulking and post operative radiotherapy. Two months following completion of radiotherapy, MRI showed almost complete resolution of the enhancing disease within the primary tumour area and no intraspinal pathological enhancement. This patient highlights the importance of considering germinoma in the differential diagnosis of all medullary masses with extension into the fourth ventricle irrespective of geographic location.
ISSN:0967-5868
1532-2653
DOI:10.1016/j.jocn.2012.11.025