Intrasellar germinoma treated with low-dose radiation

Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for Uncommon Pathologies of the Sellar and Parasellar Regions

Endoscopic skull base surgery has become an integral part of the present neurosurgical armamentarium. The pioneering efforts in which the purely endoscopic transsphenoidal approach was introduced have triggered a growing tide of using the endoscopic endonasal procedures for a large variety of skull base lesions. Because of their anatomical peculiarities, lesions of the sellar and parasellar regions lend themselves very well to the endoscopic endonasal approaches. Apart from the common pathological entities, many other less frequent pathologies are encountered in the sellar and parasellar area. In this chapter, we review the surgical technique of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach and its extensions applied to a variety of rare and uncommon pathological entities involving the sella turcica and clivus. An overview of these pathological entities is also presented and exemplified.

Metastases in cerebellopontine angle from the tumors of central nerve system

The objective of this study was to analyze the characters of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) metastases from central nerve system (CNS) tumors. Ten patients were reviewed for the period between 2008 and 2015. The clinical and neuroimaging features, and treatment outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. The average period during primary diagnosis through the diagnosis of CPA metastases was 42.4months. Among the 10 cases, the primary tumors and metastases were found simultaneously in 3 cases, the metastases after primary tumor removal were found in 5 cases, and the metastases after stereotaxic radiosurgery were found in 2 cases. Only 4 patients presented with the symptoms and signs associated with CPA involving, one with hearing loss, one presenting facial paralysis, one suffering from tinnitus and one case with dizziness. There were 2 cases with the miliary metastases and 8 cases with massive metastases. There existed 3 cases with single CPA metastases, whereas 7 cases with multiple metastatic foci. Among the 8 cases of massive metastatic foci, 6 tumors presented the solid features and the other 2 cases exhibited cystic and solid features. In this cohort of cases, 4 cases were involved in the bilateral and 6 cases presented unilateral metastatic foci. The three CPA metastases were removed in this group, 6 case performed with radiotherapy, and 5 cases received chemotherapy. In the current group 5 patients have been dead, 3 patients kept stable and 2 cases experienced improvement. In spite of seldom previous reports regarding the metastases from CNS tumors occurring in the CPA are existent, this rare form of the disease should be considered in future evaluation as a differential diagnosis.

Sellar and suprasellar mixed germ cell tumor mimicking a pituitary adenoma

Germ cell tumors (GCT) are a heterogeneous group of lesions whose origin is not well established. Several cases of primary intrasellar germinomas have been reported, however non-germinomatous GCT have rarely been described. We report the case of a young adult male patient with a mixed GCT that presented with a sellar tumor with suprasellar extension. The patient seeked medical attention because of seizures and magnetic resonance imaging evidenced a tumor of the sellar region. Hyperprolactinemia was also present and dopamine agonist therapy was started. As there was a rapid tumor growth and the patient had concomitant central diabetes insipidus and elevated testosterone levels, a GCT was suspected and confirmed by elevated serum concentration of β-human chorionic gonadotrophin. Patient underwent surgical resection of the tumor and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a mixed GCT. Chemotherapy was initiated, followed by conventional radiotherapy. In conclusion, although pituitary adenomas respond for the vast majority of sellar tumors, concomitant symptoms such as central diabetes insipidus and rapid tumor growth should raise the suspicion of a diverse diagnosis. The present report intend not only to show a rare case of sellar and suprasellar mixed GCT but also to remind clinicians that if laboratory findings do not fit into patient's diagnosis (such as high testosterone levels in our patient), then the diagnosis should be reviewed.

Optimal treatment for intracranial germinoma: can we lower radiation dose without chemotherapy?

PURPOSE

To review the effectiveness of reduced-dose and restricted-volume radiation-only therapy in the treatment of intracranial germinoma and to assess the feasibility of reducing or eliminating the use of chemotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between January 1996 and March 2007, a retrospective analysis was performed that included 38 patients who received either reduced radiation alone (30 Gy for 26 patients) or reduced radiation with chemotherapy (n = 12 patients). All 38 patients received extended focal (including whole-ventricle) irradiation and were followed up until February 2008. Overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were calculated. Variables associated with survival were evaluated by univariate Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 62.4 months (range, 10.1-142.5 months). The total 5-year OS rate was 93.7%. The 5-year OS and RFS rates for patients receiving radiation only were 100% and 96.2%, respectively. The rates for those receiving radiation plus chemotherapy were 83.3 % and 91.7%, respectively (not statistically significant). No predictive factor was significantly associated with the OS or RFS rate. Chemotherapy had no significant effect on survival but was associated with a higher incidence of treatment-related toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

A further decrease in the radiation dose to 30 Gy with whole-ventricle irradiation is sufficient to treat selected patients with intracranial germinoma. Wide-field irradiation or chemotherapy should be avoided as these methods are unnecessary. Thus, reduction of the radiation dose to 30 Gy may be feasible, even without chemotherapy.

Extended focal radiotherapy of 30 Gy alone for intracranial synchronous bifocal germinoma: a single institute experience

OBJECTS

To evaluate the disease characteristics and treatment outcomes for patients with intracranial synchronous bifocal germinomas treated with extended focal irradiation alone.

METHODS

Between January 1996 and March 2007, seven patients (three males and four females) with intracranial synchronous bifocal germinomas treated at Taipei Veterans General Hospital were reviewed. The median age at diagnosis was 14 years (range, 11-28 years). Four patients had surgery before radiotherapy. All patients underwent extended focal irradiation encompassing the whole ventricle system with a total radiation dose of 30 Gy (2 Gy daily). No patient received scheduled systemic chemotherapy before or after radiotherapy. Disease characteristics, treatment outcomes, and the impact of lesion numbers (single vs. bifocal) on survivals were investigated.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up time of 49 months (range, 20-66 months), the 2- and 5-year survival rates were both 100%. After treatment, all patients had good performance without recurrence. No severe complication was observed. In comparison, the overall survival (OS, p = 0.475) and the disease-free survival (DFS, p = 0.537) rates were not significantly different between bifocal- and single-lesion groups. Lesion numbers did not affect both OS and DFS. In addition, the incidence of neuraxial seeding was not higher in patients with bifocal germinomas as compared to those with single lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracranial germinomas are extremely radiosensitive. Young patients with synchronous bifocal germinomas could be successfully treated with extended focal 30-Gy radiotherapy alone. The therapeutic advantage using this regimen needs to be further evaluated with larger sample size and longer follow-up time.