Disseminated germinoma in the brain and cervical spinal cord 10 years after radiographic resolution of pineal germinoma

Abstract

Intracranial germinoma, a radiosensitive tumor, is seldom recurrent following initial treatment. When it does recur, it is usually soon after initial treatment and secondary to inadequate radiation field coverage of the tumor. Rarely, there have been case reports of late recurrence many years after initial therapy. Patients with recurrent germinoma in the spine have a less favorable prognosis in terms of treatment response compared to the initial lesion. Thus, careful consideration of the initial lesion, its treatment, and serial imaging of the neural axis with close follow-up is important. We report a patient with a rare delayed recurrence in the brain and cervical spinal cord despite close follow-up with clinical examination and serial imaging.