Diagnosis of intracranial germinoma by cerebrospinal fluid cytology: a report of 8 cases
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1006-7876.2011.02.002
- VernacularTitle:脑脊液细胞学在脑生殖细胞瘤诊断中的应用及八例报告
- Author:
Hongzhi GUAN
;
Lin CHEN
;
Haitao REN
;
Min QIAN
;
Yingjie DAI
;
Yanhuan ZHAO
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Brain neoplasms;
Germinoma;
Cerebrospinal fluid;
Cytodiagnosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Neurology
2011;44(2):77-80
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the value of the cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) cytology in diagnosis of intracranial germinomas by reviewing the outcomes of CSF cytology of 8 patients with intracranial germinomas. Methods Eight patients with positive CSF cytology at our clinic from January 2006 to June 2009 were reviewed. Conventional cytology and immunocytochemistry of CSF were performed. The relevant literature on the subject was reviewed. Results The patients, including 7 male and 1 female, developed endocrinological or neurological symptoms at the age of 13 to 25, and the typical neurological presentation included vertigo, headache, mental and behavior disorders, double vision and weakness of legs. The CSF cell count ranged from 0 to 300 leukocytes per cubic and elevated in 7 cases, typically lymphocytic inflammation. CSF level of human chorionic gonadotropin was 3.2-1087.0 mIU/ml, higher than the individual serum level. On CSF cytology studies, typical tumor cells of germinima were found, which had positive particles in cytoplasm on periodic acid Schiff stain. All presents had lymphocyte inflammation ( small lymphocyte predominant ). On immunocytochemical studies of CSF, the tumor cells were positive on placental alkaline phosphatase and Ki-67 stains. Conclusions CSF cytology is clinically useful for diagnosis of primary intracranial germinoma. Further clinical and cytological studies will be necessary for a better understanding of the biology of these tumors.
