2021•CNS OncologyOpen access
A pragmatic diagnostic approach to primary intracranial germ cell tumors and their treatment outcomes
Jeyaanth Venkatasai, Rajesh Balakrishnan, B Rajkrishna, Patricia Sebastain, Rikki Rorima John, Harshad Arvind Vanjare, Krishna Prabhu, Bijesh Ravindran Nair, Leni Grace. Mathew, Selvamani Backianathan
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Abstract
Background: Primary intracranial germ cell tumors (ICGCT) are often diagnosed with tumor markers and imaging, which may avoid the need for a biopsy. An intracranial germ cell tumor with mild elevation of markers is seldom stratified as a distinct entity. Methods: Fifty-nine patients were stratified into three groups: pure germinoma (PG), secreting germinoma (SG) and non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs). Results: At 5 years, progression-free survival and overall survival of the three groups (PG vs SG vs NGGCT) were 91% versus 81% versus 59%, and 100% versus 82% versus 68%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in outcome among histologically and clinically diagnosed germinomas. Conclusion: A criterion for clinical diagnosis when a biopsy is not feasible is elucidated, and comparable outcomes were demonstrated with histologically diagnosed germinomas.