Abstract
The primary aim of this study is to report the long-term outcome of pineal and suprasellar germinoma after stereotactic biopsy and whole brain radiotherapy. The second purpose is to report an investigation of the biological features and cell kinetics of this peculiar and enigmatic brain tumour. Of 34 supratentorial germ cell tumours diagnosed and treated between 1980 and 1993, 20 patients were found to be affected by true germinoma localized in the pineal and/or suprasellar regions. The diagnosis was achieved by stereotactic biopsy in all cases. In 14 patients, the potential proliferative activity of the tumour was investigated by (3H)thymidine in vitro binding and labelling index determination. Chorionic gonadotropin, α-fetoprotein and embryonal carcinoma antigen were negative in the cerebrospinal fluid of these patients. All but 1 patient underwent whole brain radiotherapy. Clinical and neuroradiological follow-up ranged between 3 and 13 years (mean 8). Complete clinical and neuroradiological recovery was achieved in all patients after treatment. Fatal recurrences owing to neuraxis dissemination occurred in three cases. The labelling index in the whole series ranged between 0.1 and 5% (median 2.5). Only syncytiotrophoblastic cells had proliferative activity, while none of the lymphoid-like cells showed thymidine labelling.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 18 August 1997 Received in revised form: 6 March 1998 Accepted: 20 March 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Franzini, A., Leocata, F., Servello, D. et al. Long-term follow-up of germinoma after stereotactic biopsy and brain radiotherapy: a cell kinetics study. J Neurol 245, 593–597 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004150050251
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004150050251