Mixed germ cell tumor of the pituitary-hypothalamic region presenting as craniopharyngioma: case report and review of the literature

Craniopharyngiomas and germ cell tumors (GCT) may affect the pituitary-hypothalamic region during childhood. Although different in origin, their clinical and radiological features may be similar. In this article we present a 5-year-old girl with clinical and radiological findings (computer tomograph...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Chang, Claudia Veiga [UNIFESP], Nunes, Vânia dos Santos, Felício, André Carvalho [UNIFESP], Zanini, Marco Antonio, Cunha-Neto, Malebranche B. C., Castro, Ana Valeria Barros de
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unifesp.br:11600/4646
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-27302008000900015
http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/4646
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Germ Cell Tumor
Craniopharyngioma
Pituitary
Hypothalamus
Tumor de células germinativas
Craniofaringioma
Hipófise
Hipotálamo
Descripción
Sumario:Craniopharyngiomas and germ cell tumors (GCT) may affect the pituitary-hypothalamic region during childhood. Although different in origin, their clinical and radiological features may be similar. In this article we present a 5-year-old girl with clinical and radiological findings (computer tomography calcification) that were initially considered as craniopharyngioma. However clinical outcome, blood and cerebral spinal fluid tumoral markers, and results from anatomopathology and immunohistochemistry disclosed a mixed GCT. This case report highlights that some clinical features and radiological findings of pituitary-hypothalamic tumors may be misdiagnosed as craniopharyngioma mainly when there is a mature teratoma with cartilaginous tissue differentiation.