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Case Reports
. 2022 Jul 1;44(5):255-260.
doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002340. Epub 2021 Oct 15.

Optic Nerve Germinoma and Transient Spontaneous Regression-More Than Meets the Eye

Claire Geurten  1   2 , Miriam Pavon-Mengual  1 , William B Lo  3 , Claire Bowen  4 , Richard Gagen  5 , Heather Stirling  6 , Kim Neuling  6 , Sally L Painter  7 , Jerald Williams  7   8 , Bryony Carr  9 , Martin English  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Optic Nerve Germinoma and Transient Spontaneous Regression-More Than Meets the Eye

Claire Geurten et al. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. .

Abstract

Infiltration of the optic pathway by germ cell tumors is exceptional and can lead to confusion with glioma or inflammatory conditions. We present the case of a 14-year-old girl with an optic nerve germinoma extending to the hypothalamus and manifesting as panhypopituitarism and visual loss. The patient experienced spontaneous regression of the lesion followed by secondary deterioration requiring treatment. Four other cases of spontaneously regressing intracranial germinoma followed by regrowth have been reported in the literature. This report highlights the importance of clinical and radiologic monitoring of intracranial germinoma, even in the event of initial spontaneous improvement.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

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