Summary
Background. High rates of overall- and event-free survival have been reported in patients with intracranial germinoma treated by radiotherapy. We report the long-term results after treatment initially with chemotherapy, but without radiation.
Patients and method. Five patients with an intracranial germinoma were treated with 2 cycles of etoposide and cisplatin, without radiotherapy. All achieved complete remission; 3 suffered recurrence within 2 years and were again treated with 2 cycles of etoposide and cisplatin followed by radiotherapy.
Results. At long-term follow-up, each of the 5 patients was in complete remission without further recurrence. Each patient with a neurohypophyseal germinoma who presented with endocrinopathy had initially recovered endocrinological function.
Conclusion. In a patient with a germinoma chemotherapy, and restriction of radiation to those with recurrence may allow restoration of hypophyseal function damaged by the intracranial germinoma without compromising long term survivial.
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Ueba, T., Yamashita, K., Fujisawa, I. et al. Long-term follow-up of 5 patients with intracranial germinoma initially treated by chemotherapy alone. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 149, 897–902 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-007-1268-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-007-1268-0