[Primary intracranial malignant germ cell tumor associated with abnormal high value of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin]

Abstract

A case of primary suprasellar germ cell tumor that produced alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in a 8-year-old boy is reported. Partial removal of tumor and combination chemotherapy using cisplatin, vincristine, and bleomycin (modified PVB therapy) resulted in an almost definite regression of the tumor and improvement from clinical symptoms in this case. After the chemotherapy the concentrations of both serum AFP and serum HCG decreased to normal levels as well. Moreover by the immunoperoxidase method AFP, HCG, and placental alkaline phosphatase were found in this particular tumor tissue. In reviewing previous reports the immunohistochemical demonstration of three tumor markers in a single germ cell tumor is seemed to be extremely rare.