Abstract
Controversy continues regarding what level of serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta (HCGβ) is consistent with pure germinoma of the central nervous system (CNS). We report a 10-year female with biopsy-proven pure germinoma and normal serum and CSF HCGβ who experienced subsequent biopsy-proven recurrences of germinoma. At recurrence, serum and CSF HCGβ levels were 560 and 3,202mIU/ml, respectively, although final autopsy demonstrated pure germinoma. This case illustrates the need to re-evaluate the assumption that pathologically pure germinomas may be associated with high levels of HCGβ which are unrelated to nongerminomatous germ cell tumor (NGGCT)/choriocarcinomatous elements.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 863-864 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Pediatric Blood and Cancer |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2011 |
Keywords
- Central nervous system
- Germinoma
- HCGβ
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health