Germinoma of basal ganglia in female: case report and review of the literature

Childs Nerv Syst. 2009 May;25(5):613-7. doi: 10.1007/s00381-008-0769-3. Epub 2008 Dec 11.

Abstract

Introduction: Germinoma of basal ganglia in female is very rare. The authors present a case of germinoma located in the right temporal lobe and basal ganglia in female and raise a hypothesis for the sex disparity.

Materials and methods: A 13-year-old Chinese girl complained of weakness in the left extremities and intermittent headache for 2 years. Neuroimaging revealed an irregular lesion in the temple lobe and basal ganglia. A temporal polectomy was performed for the tumor.

Results and discussion: Histopathologic examination confirmed germinoma. The patient remains stable and tumor-free for 36 months after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The authors' hypothesis is that it is the individual hormone balance which leads to the male predominance of germinoma in the basal ganglia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Basal Ganglia / pathology
  • Basal Ganglia / surgery*
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Female
  • Germinoma / complications
  • Germinoma / diagnosis
  • Germinoma / drug therapy
  • Germinoma / radiotherapy
  • Germinoma / surgery*
  • Headache / etiology
  • Headache / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Muscle Weakness / etiology
  • Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology
  • Temporal Lobe / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome