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Endonasal surgery for suprasellar germ cell tumors: two cases and review of the literature

  • Case Report - Brain Tumors
  • Published:
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Abstract

Germ cell tumors are rare malignant tumors frequently located in the suprasellar region. Definitive treatment is chemotherapy and radiation. However, in some circumstances, surgery is indicated for biopsy or resection. There are limited reports of the role of the endonasal endoscopic approach (EEA) in the management of this tumor. We present two cases in which EEA was utilized for successful management of germ cell tumor. The most challenging aspect of germ cell tumor management for the treating physician is knowing the proper indications for surgery. In this paper, we highlight two specific instances, namely diagnosis and tumor refractory to chemoradiation. Given the suprasellar location, EEA is an ideal approach.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharqia, Egypt

    Mohamed M. Arnaout

  2. Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, Box 99, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Mohamed M. Arnaout, Mina M. Gerges, Matthew D. Cummock, Abad Cherif El Asri, Jeffrey P. Greenfield & Theodore H. Schwartz

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mina M. Gerges

  4. Department of Neurological Surgery, St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ, USA

    Matthew D. Cummock

  5. Department of Neurological Surgery, Military hospital Mohamed V, Rabat, Morocco

    Abad Cherif El Asri

  6. Department of Otolaryngology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA

    Vijay K. Anand & Theodore H. Schwartz

  7. Department of Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA

    Theodore H. Schwartz

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  1. Mohamed M. Arnaout
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Correspondence to Theodore H. Schwartz.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

IRB/ethics committee approval and patient consent

We have IRB approval for endoscopic skull base clinical case series that do not require patient consent.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Brain Tumors

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Arnaout, M.M., Gerges, M.M., Cummock, M.D. et al. Endonasal surgery for suprasellar germ cell tumors: two cases and review of the literature. Acta Neurochir 161, 1699–1704 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-03969-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-03969-3

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