Thalamic Germinoma in a Child with Symptoms of Precocious Pseudopuberty –  a Case Report


Authors: Z. Pavelka 1;  O. Magnová 2;  L. Křen 3;  T. Svoboda 4;  E. Brichtová 5;  J. Štěrba 1
Authors‘ workplace: LF MU Brno a FN Brno Klinika dětské onkologie 1;  LF MU Brno a FN Brno Pediatrická klinika 2;  LF MU Brno a FN Brno Ústav patologie 3;  LF MU Brno a FN Brno Neurochirurgická klinika 4;  LF MU Brno a FN Brno Neurochirurgické oddělení Kliniky dětské chirurgie, ortopedie a traumatologie 5
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2013; 76/109(4): 497-500
Category: Case Report

Overview

We describe a case of a 6 years old boy with germinoma of an unusual thalamic localization that presented with precocious pseudopuberty based on ectopic human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion. The tumour was confirmed with stereotactic biopsy; subsequent chemotherapy and radiotherapy led to complete remission. The mechanism of precocious pseudopuberty and clinical and treatment aspects of brain germinomas in children arediscussed.

Key words:
germinoma – central nervous system – human chorionic gonadotropin – pseudopuberty – chemotherapy – radiotherapy


Sources

1. Kleihues P, Cavanee WK. Pathology and genetics of tumors of the nervous system. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Press 2007.

2. Louis DN, Ohgaki H, Wiestler OD, Cavenee WK, Burger PC, Jouvet A et al. The 2007 WHO classification of tumours of the central nervous system. Acta Neuropathol 2007; 114(2): 97– 109.

3. Pizzo PA, Poplack DG. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2005.

4. Childrens Oncology Group [online]. Available from: www.childrensoncologygroup.org/ members/ protocols/ CNS.

5. González- Sánchez V, Moreno‑Pérez O, Pellicer PS, Sánchez- Ortiga R, Guerra RA, Dot MM et al. Validation of the human chorionic gonadotropin immunoassay in cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnostic work- up of neurohypophyseal germinomas. Ann Clin Biochem 2011; 48(5): 433– 437.

6. Phi JH, Cho BK, Kim SK, Paeng JC, Kim IO, Kim IH et al. Germinomas in the basal ganglia: magnetic resonance imaging classification and the prognosis. J Neurooncol 2010; 99(2): 227– 236.

7. Jorsal T, Rørth M. Intracranial germ cell tumours. A review with special reference to endocrine manifestations. Acta Oncol 2012; 51(1): 3– 9.

8. Tamaki N, Lin T, Shirataki K, Hosoda K, Kurata H, Matsumoto S et al. Germ cell tumors of the thalamus and the basal ganglia. Childs Nerv Syst 1990; 6(1): 3– 7.

9. Ng WK, Lam KY, Ng IO. Langerhans‘ cell histiocytosis: possible association with malignant germ cell tumour. J Clin Pathol 1995; 48(10): 963– 965.

10. Stephen MD, Zage PE, Waguespack SG. Gonadotropin‑dependent precocious puberty: neoplastic causes and endocrine considerations. Int J Pediatr Endocrinol 2011; 2011: 184502.

11. Fadrus P, Lakomý R, Hübnerová P, Slabý O, Keřkovský M, Svoboda T et al. Intrakraniální nádory –  diagnostika a terapie. Intern Med Prax 2010; 12(7,8): 376– 381.

Labels
Paediatric neurology Neurosurgery Neurology

Article was published in

Czech and Slovak Neurology and Neurosurgery

Issue 4

2013 Issue 4

Most read in this issue
Login
Forgotten password

Don‘t have an account?  Create new account

Forgotten password

Enter the email address that you registered with. We will send you instructions on how to set a new password.

Login

Don‘t have an account?  Create new account