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Review
. 2015;4(4):273-9.
doi: 10.2217/cns.15.13. Epub 2015 Jun 29.

Management of CNS germinoma

Diana S Osorio  1   2 , Jeffrey C Allen  1
Affiliations
Review

Management of CNS germinoma

Diana S Osorio et al. CNS Oncol. 2015.

Abstract

The following is a general overview of the management of CNS germinomas. Over the last 35 years, CNS germinomas have become one of the pediatric brain tumors with the best outcomes with a greater than 85% overall survival over 5 years. This is in part due to the fact that germinomas are very responsive to chemotherapy and radiation. Some of the major challenges going forward will be to find ways to minimize the adverse effects of our treatments particularly with regard to radiation and to improve the quality of life of patients who develop neurologic, neurocognitive and/or endocrine deficiencies.

Keywords: BHCG; CNS; brain tumor; chemotherapy; germ cell tumor; germinoma; management; pediatric; pure germinoma; radiation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

<b>Figure 1.</b>
Figure 1.. Typical MRI findings.
Axial (A) and saggital (B) T-1 post contrast study reveals a contrast-enhancing solid and cystic mass in the pineal region. The ventricles are decompressed following an endoscopic third ventriculostomy.
<b>Figure 2.</b>
Figure 2.. Permanent sections.
The tissue consists of abundant lymphocytes, macrophages and large, round cells with pale eosinophilic cytoplasm with occasional vacuoles, distinct cytoplasmic borders and round nuclei with prominent round nucleoli. Figure provided courtesy of [15].
<b>Figure 3.</b>
Figure 3.. Immunohistochemical stains.
(A & B) Neoplastic cells are positive for placental alkaline phosphatase. Figure provided courtesy of [15].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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