Obsessive-compulsive disorder secondary to brain dysgerminoma in an adolescent boy: a positron emission tomography case report

J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2002 Fall;12(3):259-63. doi: 10.1089/104454602760386950.

Abstract

The neuroanatomical model involved in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) postulates a hyperactivation of orbitofrontal, limbic, and basal ganglia circuits. We report a case of OCD secondary to brain dysgerminoma affecting this circuit in an adolescent who responded to citalopram. The patient is a 16-year-old-boy with a midline germinal tumor (dysgerminoma) affecting the caudate nuclei; left lenticular, right internal capsule's genu; and bilateral involvement of the interventricular septum close to the interventricular foramina. He had OCD symptoms and elevated tumor markers when he had a tumor relapse, and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed caudate nuclei involvement. He responded to citalopram that had to be titrated gradually to 80 mg/day.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Caudate Nucleus / diagnostic imaging
  • Caudate Nucleus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnostic imaging*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / etiology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed / methods*