Skip to main content
Log in

MRI of intracranial germ cell tumors

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
  • Published:
Neuroradiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We reviewed MRI findings in proven intracranial germ cell tumours in 22 cases, 12 of whom received Gd-DTPA. On T1-weighted images, the signal intensity of the tumour parenchyma was moderately low in 19 cases and isointense in 3; on T2-weighted images, it was high in all cases. Regions of different intensity thought to be cysts were found in 17 (77%): 7 of 12 patients with germinoma (58%) and in all other cases. Of the 13 patients with pineal lesions T1-weighted sagittal images showed the aqueduct to be obstructed in 5, stenotic in 7 and normal in 1. Strong contrast enhancement was observed in all 12 cases. Of the 14 patients with suprasellar lesions, 5 were found to have an intrasellar extension, and in 3 of these, the normal pituitary gland, which could be distinguished from the tumour, was displaced anteriorly. Ten patients (45%) had multiple lesions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Committee of Brain Tumour Registry of Japan (1990) The epidemiology and statistics of brain tumours in Japan (in Japanese)

  2. Russell DS, Rubinstein LJ (1989) Pathology of tumours of the nervous system, 5th edn. William & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 380–394

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kilgore DP, Strother CM, Starshak RJ et al (1986) Pineal germinoma: MR imaging. Radiology 158: 435–438

    Google Scholar 

  4. Arita K, Uozumi T, Kuwabara B, et al (1991) A case of sellar germinoma which was misdiagnosed as pituitary adenoma (in Japanese). Neurol Surg 19: 1073–1077

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zimmerman RA, Bilaniuk LT, Wood JH et al (1980) Computed tomography of pineal, parapineal, and histologically related tumours. Radiology 137: 669–677

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tanaka R, Takeda N, Ueki K, et al (1980) Computerized tomography in the diagnosis and management of pineal region tumours (in Japanese). Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 20: 1103–1114

    Google Scholar 

  7. Futrell NN, Osborn AG, Cheson BD (1981) Pineal region tumours: computed tomographic-pathologic spectrum. AJR 137: 951–956

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ganti SR, Hilal SK, Stein BM, et al (1986) Rathke's cleft cysts: CT of pineal region tumours. AJNR 7: 97–104/AJR 146: 451–458

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chang T, Teng MMH, Guo WY, et al (1989) CT of pineal tumours and intracranial germ-cell tumours. AJNR 10: 1039–1044

    Google Scholar 

  10. Muller-Forell W, Schroth G, Egan PJ (1988) MR imaging in tumours of the pineal region. Neuroradiology 30: 224–231

    Google Scholar 

  11. Tien RD, Barkovich AJ, Edwards MSB (1990) MR imaging of pineal tumours. AJNR 11: 557–565

    Google Scholar 

  12. Zee CS, Segall H, Apuzzo M, et al (1991) MR imaging of pineal region neoplasms. J Comput Assist Tomogr 15: 156–163

    Google Scholar 

  13. Soejima T, Takeshita I, Yamamoto H, et al (1987) Computed tomography of germinomas in basal ganglia and thalamus. Neuroradiology 29: 366–370

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kilgore DP, Breger RK, Daniels DL, et al (1986) Cranial tissues: normal MR appearance after intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA. Radiology 160: 757–761

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bronen A, Sze G (1990) Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents: theory and application to the central nervous system. J Neurosurg 73: 820–839

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jennings MT, Gelman R, Hochberg F (1985) Intracranial germ-cell tumours: natural history and pathogenesis. J Neurosurg 63: 155–167

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mackay RP (1939) Pinealoma of diffuse ependymal origin. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 142: 892–902

    Google Scholar 

  18. Alexander CM, Towfighi J (1986) Pineal cyst: MR imaging. AJNR 7: 1081–1086

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lee DH, Norman D, Newton TH (1987) MR imaging of pineal cysts. J Comput Tomogr 11: 586–590

    Google Scholar 

  20. Nakagawa H, Iwasaki S, Kichikawa K, et al (1990) MR imaging of pine-ocytoma: report of two cases. AJNR 11: 185–198

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sugiyama K, Uozumi T, Kiya K, et al (1992) Pineocytoma: clinicopathological evaluation of 4 cases (in Japanese). Neurol Surg 20: 383–390

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kageyama N, Belsky R (1961) Ectopic pinealoma in the chiasma region. Neurology 22: 533–544

    Google Scholar 

  23. Simpson LR, Lampe I, Abell MR (1968) Suprasellar germinomas. Cancer 90: 444–450

    Google Scholar 

  24. Takeuchi J, Handa H, Nagata I (1978) Suprasellar germinoma. J Neurosurg 49: 41–48

    Google Scholar 

  25. Baskin DS, Wilson CB (1983) Transsphenoidal surgery of intrasellar germinomas. J Neurosurg 59: 1063–1066

    Google Scholar 

  26. Shen DY, Guay AT, Silverman ML, et al (1984) Primary intrasellar germinoma in a woman presenting with secondary amenorrhea and hyperprolactinemia. Neurosurgery 15: 417–420

    Google Scholar 

  27. Fujisawa I, Asato R, Okumura R, et al (1991) Magnetic resonance imaging of neurohypophyseal germinomas. Cancer 68: 1009–1014

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ghatak NR, Hirano A, Zimmerman HM (1969) Intrasellar germinoma: a form of ectopic pinealoma. J Neurosurg 31: 670–675

    Google Scholar 

  29. Oishi M, Iida T, Koide M, et al (1989) Primary intrasellar microgerminoma detected by magnetic resonance imaging: case report. Neurosurgery 25: 458–462

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sumida, M., Uozumi, T., Kiya, K. et al. MRI of intracranial germ cell tumors. Neuroradiology 37, 32–37 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00588516

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00588516

Key words

Navigation