Germinoma of basal ganglia in female: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: Germinoma of basal ganglia in female is very rare. The authors present a case of germinoma located in the right temporal lobe and basal ganglia in female and raise a hypothesis for the sex disparity.

Materials and methods: A 13-year-old Chinese girl complained of weakness in the left extremities and intermittent headache for 2 years. Neuroimaging revealed an irregular lesion in the temple lobe and basal ganglia. A temporal polectomy was performed for the tumor.

Results and discussion: Histopathologic examination confirmed germinoma. The patient remains stable and tumor-free for 36 months after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The authors' hypothesis is that it is the individual hormone balance which leads to the male predominance of germinoma in the basal ganglia.