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Complete disappearance of giant intracranial germinoma after irradiation

Neurosurgical Review volume 18, pages 285–292 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Intracranial germinomas are lesions with a varying, rather benign growth potential, and account for only 0.3 to 1.5% of all brain tumors. About 70% of the patients with these tumors are between 10 and 21 years of age at diagnosis. Germinomas are radiosensitive and respond well also to chemotherapy. The case of a 22-year-old male patient with a giant primary intracranial germinoma originating in the pineal region is presented. Clinical signs and symptoms are described together with neuroradiological, light-microscopic, and immunohistochemical findings. The tumor was irradiated with a total dose of 46 Gy and disappeared completely already after an effective tumor dose of 30 Gy. No recurrence was seen during a follow-up of three years. The patient's quality of life could be preserved and a complete cure was achieved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Martin-Luther-University Halle, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Nikolai G. Rainov & Winfried Burkert

  2. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin-Luther-University Halle, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Hans-Jürgen Holzhausen

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  1. Nikolai G. Rainov
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  2. Hans-Jürgen Holzhausen
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  3. Winfried Burkert
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Rainov, N.G., Holzhausen, HJ. & Burkert, W. Complete disappearance of giant intracranial germinoma after irradiation. Neurosurg. Rev. 18, 285–292 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383883

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383883

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