Pineal germinoma in a young adult: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial germinomas (GN) are rare cancers that primarily affect children, making them rarer still in adults. Standard treatment for this neoplasm includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) followed by radiotherapy (RT) or RT at a higher dose and larger field. These recommendations are based on studies focused mostly on children; it is currently unclear whether this treatment is applicable to adults. CASE: We present a case of a 23-year-old adult male with no underlying pathologies, drug allergies, or family history of cancer, who presented for medical evaluation with blurred vision, diplopia, forgetfulness, and weight loss starting 3-4 months before the evaluation. Clinical examination indicated Parinaud's Syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) revealed a pineal tumor with ependymal dissemination in both lateral ventricles, which was causing obstructive hydrocephalus. The patient had surgery consisting of ventriculostomy, Holter shunt insertion, cisternal ventricular intubation, and cisterna magna anastomosis to improve ventricular drainage. Pathology confirmed pineal germinoma. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology and MRI of the axis were negative. Four cycles of NC were given to the patient (carboplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide), with reduced dosage. Once a partial volumetric response was confirmed, whole-ventricular radiotherapy (WVR) was initiated with a total tumor bed dose of 45 Gy over 25 sessions in 5 weeks. Optimum clinical results were observed, and no short-term (<90 day) radiation toxicity was observed. The patient was able to resume his normal activities soon after treatment. Follow-ups over 2 years post-surgery indicated continued control of the lesion and absence of symptoms except for mild diplopia. CONCLUSION: Although this is a case report, these data suggest that a reduced NC course and WVR may effectively treat adult GN. This protocol likely decreases the risk of undesirable NC and RT secondary effects, while providing excellent local control; however, using a narrower RT field is not recommended.

Germinoma en un paciente con emaciación y retraso de crecimiento. A propósito de un caso / Germinoma in a patient with emaciation and growth retardation. Case report

Los tumores del sistema nervioso central representan la segunda enfermedad oncológica más habitual en niños y adolescentes. Entre los tumores intracraneales, los de células germinales son infrecuentes. Los síntomas que desencadenan son cefalea, náuseas, vómitos, déficits hormonales, alteraciones visuales, pérdida de peso, pobre crecimiento y pubertad precoz. Menos frecuentemente, producen trastornos del movimiento o psiquiátricos. Algunos de estos tumores pueden ser asintomáticos un largo período, lo que desencadena un diagnóstico tardío.Se presenta a una paciente femenina de 14 años con pérdida de peso y falla del crecimiento, con diagnóstico erróneo de trastorno de la conducta alimentaria. Tras estudios pertinentes, se arribó al diagnóstico de germinoma del sistema nervioso central. Al ser esta patología infrecuente y de presentación variable, requiere alto sentido de alerta por parte de la familia involucrada y del equipo de salud para evitar retrasos en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento

Central nervous system tumors are the second most frequent oncological disease among children and teenagers. Among the intracranial tumors, the germ cells ones are infrequent. The symptoms they cause are headaches, nausea and vomiting, hormonal deficits, visual disturbances, weight loss, poor growth and early puberty. Less frequently, they produce movement or psychiatric disorders. Some of these tumors can be asymptomatic for a long period leading to a late diagnosis.The case of a 14-year-old female patient is presented. She showed weight loss and growth failure, with wrong diagnosis of eating disorder. After proper study methods, we arrived to central nervous system germinoma diagnosis. Because this pathology is rare and has a variable form of presentation, it requires that the family involved and the health team to be alert, to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Intracranial germinoma causing cerebral haemiatrophy and hypopituitarism.

A young woman presented with primary amenorrhoea, progressive haemiparesis, visual disturbance, dementia and focal motor seizures. Investigations showed hypopituitarism, unilateral cerebral atrophy and inflamed cerebrospinal fluid. A trans-sphenoidal biopsy gave a unifying diagnosis of a pituitary germinoma.