Pineal and Suprasellar Germinoma Cooccurence with Vertebra Plana: A Case Report.
- Author:
Farrokh SEILANIAN TOOSI
1
;
Behzad AMINZADEH
;
Mohammad FARAJI RAD
;
Sirous NEKOOEI
;
Mahsa NAHIDI
;
Ehsan KEYKHOSRAVI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Germinoma; Langerhans cell histiocytosis; Vertebra; Hemangioma
- MeSH: Adolescent; Back Pain; Biopsy; Brain; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System; Child; Comorbidity; Diagnosis; Germinoma*; Headache; Hemangioma; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Nausea; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Pineal Gland; Polydipsia; Polyuria; Spine*
- From:Brain Tumor Research and Treatment 2018;6(2):73-77
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Germinoma is the most common type of intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs). Pineal gland and suprasellar region are the most frequent sites of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Intracranial masses caused by Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) mimics features of CNS GCTs. LCH frequently involve spine and is the most common cause of vertebra plana in children. A 15-year-old boy presented with progressing symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria, general headache, nausea and severe back pain. Brain MRI showed brain tumor with simultaneous involvement of suprasellar region and pineal gland. An excisional biopsy of suprasellar mass was done. The pathologic assessment confirmed the diagnosis of germinoma. Patient's treatment continued accordingly. A spine MRI, done due to persistent backache, showed a vertebra plana. We reevaluated the primary diagnosis suspecting LCH. Germinoma of CNS was confirmed and a biopsy of vertebral lesion resulted in hemangioma. Thus we report a case of CNS germinoma with co-occurrence of vertebra plana. We emphasized the importance of histopathologic diagnosis of pineal/suprasellar masses and primary investigation of other CNS regions including spine for possible metastasis or comorbidities.
