Germ cell tumors of the thalamus and the basal ganglia

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Two cases of germ cell tumors (GCTs) of the basal ganglia are presented and 40 previously reported cases are reviewed. The incidence of GCTs of the basal ganglia and thalamus was estimated as less than 14% of all intracranial GCTs. All patients except for two (95%) were male, aged 7-19 years. The clinical course was usually slow. The major symptoms were hemiparesis, mental deterioration such as dementia or character change, precocious puberty, diabetes insipidus, oculomotor palsy, speech disturbance, and hemianopsia. Signs of intracranial hypertension did not occur until the late stages of the disease. The plain CT finding was characterized by an irregularly defined, slightly high-density area frequently accompanied by central low-density areas without significant mass effect. The tumors showed mild to moderate and nonhomogeneous contrast enhancement. An ipsilateral cerebral hemiatrophy was often found. MR images demonstrated the corresponding findings. GCTs of the basal ganglia had a high possibility of containing components other than germinoma such as choriocarcinoma, endodermal sinus tumor, and embryonal carcinoma. Thus, tumor markers in the serum, CSF, or cyst fluid were frequently positive. With recent refinement of microsurgical techniques as well as immunohistochemical study and measurements of tumor markers of serum, CSF, and cyst fluid, major resections of tumor, accurate pretreatment histologic diagnosis, and early determination of the specific types of this tumor appear to be readily possible. This is essential for effective treatment of patients not only with radiosensitive germinoma, but also those with radioinsensitive nongerminoma variants and a combination of them located in this region.

Key findings

• The plain CT finding was characterized by an irregularly defined, slightly high-density area frequently accompanied by central low-density areas without significant mass effect.
• MR images demonstrated the corresponding findings.

Why it matters

This review describes germ cell tumors of the basal ganglia and thalamus, which can cause symptoms such as mental deterioration including dementia. These tumors are a different condition from Alzheimer's disease, and the study does not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

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Study details

• Evidence strengthLow

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00262257
• PubMed: 2178773
• Original source →

May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.

@article{tamaki1990-2178773,
  author  = {Tamaki, N. and Lin, T. and Shirataki, K. and Hosoda, K. and Kurata, H. and Matsumoto, S. and Ito, H.},
  title   = {{Germ cell tumors of the thalamus and the basal ganglia}},
  journal = {Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery},
  year    = {1990},
  doi     = {10.1007/bf00262257},
  pmid    = {2178773},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00262257}
}

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