儿童颅内生殖细胞瘤4例报道简

目的：探讨儿童颅内生殖细胞瘤的综合治疗策略.方法：回顾性分析四川省肿瘤医院收治的行综合治疗的4例儿童颅内生殖细胞瘤患者的诊疗结果,结合文献复习,制色综合治疗策略.结果：中位随访19个月.4例患者均存活,无1例出现复发和转移.智力正常,生长发育可.结论：诱导化疗联合全脑室中低剂量放疗是局限性儿童颅内生殖细胞瘤治疗的发展趋势,而脊髓放疗的指征和剂量还有待进一步的研究.     

41例原发鞍上+松果体区生殖细胞瘤治疗分析及策略探讨

目的 分析颅内原发鞍上+松果体区生殖细胞瘤患者的治疗结果及治疗策略的探讨。方法 1996—2013年放疗鞍上+松果体区生殖细胞瘤患者 41例,男 35例、女 6例,年龄 5~39岁。经病灶活检病理诊断 5例,其余为临床诊断。采用常规放疗 33例、IMRT 8例;5例病理诊断者进行化放疗。放疗采用6 MV X线,照射野有全脑室照射+瘤区补量 6例,全脑照射+瘤区补量 16例,全脑脊髓照射+瘤区补量 19例。肿瘤区照射剂量 37.8~50.0 Gy,预防照射区剂量 17.8~35.0 Gy。Kaplan-Meier法进行生存率计算。结果 5年样本数 26例。5年OS率为95%、RFS率为85%。复发转移 8例,其中脊髓转移 4例、脑室播散 1例、脑室周边复发 3例。22例未进行脊髓照射者脊髓转移 4例,19例进行脊髓照射者无脊髓转移。8例IMRT者及 5例化放疗者随访期内均未出现治疗失败。结论 颅内生殖细胞瘤放疗效果好,双部位生殖细胞瘤不进行脊髓照射者失败率较高,建议对双部位病灶的患者进行脊髓照射。     

23例原发中枢神经系统生殖细胞瘤综合治疗的疗效分析

背景与目的:原发中枢神经系统生殖细胞瘤(primary central nervoussystem germ cell tumors,CNS GCTs)是较罕见的恶性肿瘤,病理类型多样。除纯生殖细胞瘤和成熟畸胎瘤外,其它类型预后较差。目前的研究多联合包括化疗在内的综合治疗以改善生存。本文分析PEB方案化疗联合放疗/手术的综合治疗的疗效及不良反应。方法:2002年5月至2006年6月期间中山大学肿瘤防治中心收治的23例CNS GCTs患者入组,中位年龄16岁,82.6%的患者AFP和/或β-HCG升高。所有患者均采用PEB方案化疗结合手术/放射治疗。PEB方案:顺铂20mg/m2d1～5或80～100mg/m2d1,足叶乙甙或替尼泊甙60～100mg/m2d1～5,博来霉素10mg/m2,d1,d5,每3周重复。结果:17例初治患者采用诱导化疗后放射治疗或手术/放疗后辅助化疗;6例复发患者行挽救化疗,其中3例肿瘤播散的患者挽救化疗后补充全中枢放疗。23例患者共完成61个周期的PEB方案化疗,中位化疗3周期,单纯化疗的客观有效率为87.0%,完全缓解率为30.4%。全中枢放疗14例,局部放疗8例,1例未放疗。13例接受过手术治疗但均未能完全切除肿瘤。综合治疗后60.9%(14/23)的患者持续完全缓解至今生存未复发。中位随访24个月,死亡6例,均死于肿瘤进展。全组2年生存率为67.4%。主要不良反应为迟发性放射性损伤:继发性再生障碍性贫血并下丘脑综合征1例,放射性脑病1例,垂体功能减退2例。结论:对CNS GCTs特别是伴有肿瘤标记物升高的患者,PEB方案化疗联合放疗/手术的综合治疗可获得较好的疗效和生存率,但全中枢放疗的远期副作用不容忽视。     

立体定向放射治疗联合化疗治疗放疗后局部复发非小细胞肺癌的疗效

目的:探讨立体定向放射治疗技术结合GP化疗方案(吉西他滨+顺铂)治疗首次放疗后局部复发的非小细胞肺癌患者的疗效.方法:38例首次放疗后局部复发的非小细胞肺癌患者接受立体定向放射治疗,处方剂量为3.00～4.85 Gy/次,每周5次,共8～12次,总疗程2～3周;放疗前基于GP方案化疗2个周期,放疗后再给予GP方案化疗4个周期.结果: 38例患者的近期疗效为完全缓解7例、部分缓解23例,总有效率达到78.95%,6个月的总生存率为71.05%,1年的总生存率为10.53%,中位生存时间为7.8个月.结论:立体定向放射治疗首次放疗后局部复发的非小细胞肺癌显示出良好的近期疗效,患者能够耐受,未见严重的近期放射性损伤.晚期放射性损伤和远期疗效还有待进一步研究.     

74例颅内生殖细胞瘤放疗疗效分析

目的 分析颅内生殖细胞瘤的放疗疗效.方法 搜集2007年11月前接近18年内收治的颅内生殖细胞瘤病例74例,其中男35例,女39例,中位年龄15(5～45)岁.放疗前病理诊断9例,余65例20 Gy放疗后MRI显示病灶均明显缩小(>50%)或消失为临床诊断.应用6 MV X线全脑全脊髓放疗加局部补量照射、全脑放疗加局部补量照射、全脑室放疗加局部补量或肿瘤区局部照射,原发病灶区38.5～50.0 Gy,全脑或全脑室18～25 Gy,全脊髓21～25 Gy,分割剂量1.6～2.0Gy/次,5次/周.结果 中位随访时间80(12～168)个月,总随访率为97%,10年随访例数和随访率分别为14例和19%.1、5、10年总生存率和无复发生存率分别为99%和97%、96%和90%、93%和83%.共9例患者治疗失败,6例为照射野内复发,3例为照射野外转移.照射野内复发者中肿瘤剂量<40 Gy者3例.38例患者放疗后有不同程度的垂体前叶功能低下,部分需强的松等激素替代治疗.结论 放疗是颅内生殖细胞瘤的主要治疗手段,其照射剂量、范围要根据病灶数目、脑脊液检查等结果 来决定.     

74例颅内生殖细胞瘤放疗疗效分析

目的 分析颅内生殖细胞瘤的放疗疗效.方法 搜集2007年11月前接近18年内收治的颅内生殖细胞瘤病例74例,其中男35例,女39例,中位年龄15(5～45)岁.放疗前病理诊断9例,余65例20 Gy放疗后MRI显示病灶均明显缩小(>50%)或消失为临床诊断.应用6 MV X线全脑全脊髓放疗加局部补量照射、全脑放疗加局部补量照射、全脑室放疗加局部补量或肿瘤区局部照射,原发病灶区38.5～50.0 Gy,全脑或全脑室18～25 Gy,全脊髓21～25 Gy,分割剂量1.6～2.0Gy/次,5次/周.结果 中位随访时间80(12～168)个月,总随访率为97%,10年随访例数和随访率分别为14例和19%.1、5、10年总生存率和无复发生存率分别为99%和97%、96%和90%、93%和83%.共9例患者治疗失败,6例为照射野内复发,3例为照射野外转移.照射野内复发者中肿瘤剂量<40 Gy者3例.38例患者放疗后有不同程度的垂体前叶功能低下,部分需强的松等激素替代治疗.结论 放疗是颅内生殖细胞瘤的主要治疗手段,其照射剂量、范围要根据病灶数目、脑脊液检查等结果 来决定.     

74例颅内生殖细胞瘤放疗疗效分析

目的 分析颅内生殖细胞瘤的放疗疗效.方法 搜集2007年11月前接近18年内收治的颅内生殖细胞瘤病例74例,其中男35例,女39例,中位年龄15(5～45)岁.放疗前病理诊断9例,余65例20 Gy放疗后MRI显示病灶均明显缩小(>50%)或消失为临床诊断.应用6 MV X线全脑全脊髓放疗加局部补量照射、全脑放疗加局部补量照射、全脑室放疗加局部补量或肿瘤区局部照射,原发病灶区38.5～50.0 Gy,全脑或全脑室18～25 Gy,全脊髓21～25 Gy,分割剂量1.6～2.0Gy/次,5次/周.结果 中位随访时间80(12～168)个月,总随访率为97%,10年随访例数和随访率分别为14例和19%.1、5、10年总生存率和无复发生存率分别为99%和97%、96%和90%、93%和83%.共9例患者治疗失败,6例为照射野内复发,3例为照射野外转移.照射野内复发者中肿瘤剂量<40 Gy者3例.38例患者放疗后有不同程度的垂体前叶功能低下,部分需强的松等激素替代治疗.结论 放疗是颅内生殖细胞瘤的主要治疗手段,其照射剂量、范围要根据病灶数目、脑脊液检查等结果 来决定.     

74例颅内生殖细胞瘤放疗疗效分析

目的 分析颅内生殖细胞瘤的放疗疗效.方法 搜集2007年11月前接近18年内收治的颅内生殖细胞瘤病例74例,其中男35例,女39例,中位年龄15(5～45)岁.放疗前病理诊断9例,余65例20 Gy放疗后MRI显示病灶均明显缩小(>50%)或消失为临床诊断.应用6 MV X线全脑全脊髓放疗加局部补量照射、全脑放疗加局部补量照射、全脑室放疗加局部补量或肿瘤区局部照射,原发病灶区38.5～50.0 Gy,全脑或全脑室18～25 Gy,全脊髓21～25 Gy,分割剂量1.6～2.0Gy/次,5次/周.结果 中位随访时间80(12～168)个月,总随访率为97%,10年随访例数和随访率分别为14例和19%.1、5、10年总生存率和无复发生存率分别为99%和97%、96%和90%、93%和83%.共9例患者治疗失败,6例为照射野内复发,3例为照射野外转移.照射野内复发者中肿瘤剂量<40 Gy者3例.38例患者放疗后有不同程度的垂体前叶功能低下,部分需强的松等激素替代治疗.结论 放疗是颅内生殖细胞瘤的主要治疗手段,其照射剂量、范围要根据病灶数目、脑脊液检查等结果 来决定.     

74例颅内生殖细胞瘤放疗疗效分析

目的 分析颅内生殖细胞瘤的放疗疗效.方法 搜集2007年11月前接近18年内收治的颅内生殖细胞瘤病例74例,其中男35例,女39例,中位年龄15(5～45)岁.放疗前病理诊断9例,余65例20 Gy放疗后MRI显示病灶均明显缩小(>50%)或消失为临床诊断.应用6 MV X线全脑全脊髓放疗加局部补量照射、全脑放疗加局部补量照射、全脑室放疗加局部补量或肿瘤区局部照射,原发病灶区38.5～50.0 Gy,全脑或全脑室18～25 Gy,全脊髓21～25 Gy,分割剂量1.6～2.0Gy/次,5次/周.结果 中位随访时间80(12～168)个月,总随访率为97%,10年随访例数和随访率分别为14例和19%.1、5、10年总生存率和无复发生存率分别为99%和97%、96%和90%、93%和83%.共9例患者治疗失败,6例为照射野内复发,3例为照射野外转移.照射野内复发者中肿瘤剂量<40 Gy者3例.38例患者放疗后有不同程度的垂体前叶功能低下,部分需强的松等激素替代治疗.结论 放疗是颅内生殖细胞瘤的主要治疗手段,其照射剂量、范围要根据病灶数目、脑脊液检查等结果 来决定.     

74例颅内生殖细胞瘤放疗疗效分析

目的 分析颅内生殖细胞瘤的放疗疗效.方法 搜集2007年11月前接近18年内收治的颅内生殖细胞瘤病例74例,其中男35例,女39例,中位年龄15(5～45)岁.放疗前病理诊断9例,余65例20 Gy放疗后MRI显示病灶均明显缩小(>50%)或消失为临床诊断.应用6 MV X线全脑全脊髓放疗加局部补量照射、全脑放疗加局部补量照射、全脑室放疗加局部补量或肿瘤区局部照射,原发病灶区38.5～50.0 Gy,全脑或全脑室18～25 Gy,全脊髓21～25 Gy,分割剂量1.6～2.0Gy/次,5次/周.结果 中位随访时间80(12～168)个月,总随访率为97%,10年随访例数和随访率分别为14例和19%.1、5、10年总生存率和无复发生存率分别为99%和97%、96%和90%、93%和83%.共9例患者治疗失败,6例为照射野内复发,3例为照射野外转移.照射野内复发者中肿瘤剂量<40 Gy者3例.38例患者放疗后有不同程度的垂体前叶功能低下,部分需强的松等激素替代治疗.结论 放疗是颅内生殖细胞瘤的主要治疗手段,其照射剂量、范围要根据病灶数目、脑脊液检查等结果 来决定.     

SIOP CNS GCT 96: final report of outcome of a prospective,multinational nonrandomized trial for children and adults with intracranial germinoma,comparing craniospinal irradiation alone with chemotherapy followed by focal primary site irradiation for patients with localized disease

Background

We conducted a nonrandomized international study for intracranial germinoma that compared chemotherapy followed by local radiotherapy with reduced-dose craniospinal irradiation (CSI) alone, to determine whether the combined treatment regimen produced equivalent outcome and avoided irradiation beyond the primary tumor site(s).

Methods

Patients with localized germinoma received either CSI or 2 courses of carboplatin and etoposide alternating with etoposide and ifosfamide, followed by local radiotherapy. Metastatic patients received CSI with focal boosts to primary tumor and metastatic sites, with the option to be preceded with chemotherapy.

Results

Patients with localized germinoma (n = 190) received either CSI alone (n = 125) or combined therapy (n = 65), demonstrating no differences in 5-year event-free or overall survival, but a difference in progression-free survival (0.97 ± 0.02 vs 0.88 ± 0.04; P = .04). Seven of 65 patients receiving combined treatment experienced relapse (6 with ventricular recurrence outside the primary radiotherapy field), and only 4 of 125 patients treated with CSI alone experienced relapse (all at the primary tumor site). Metastatic patients (n = 45) had 0.98 ± 0.023 event-free and overall survival.

Conclusions

Localized germinoma can be treated with reduced dose CSI alone or with chemotherapy and reduced-field radiotherapy. The pattern of relapse suggests inclusion of ventricles in the radiation field. Reduced-dose craniospinal radiation alone is effective in metastatic disease.     

Combined treatment modality for intracranial germinomas: results of a multicentre SFOP experience. Société Française d'Oncologie Pédiatrique

Conventional therapy for intracranial germinomas is craniospinal irradiation. In 1990, the Société Fran?aise d'Oncologie Pédiatrique initiated a study combining chemotherapy (alternating courses of etoposide-carboplatin and etoposide-ifosfamide for a recommended total of four courses) with 40 Gy local irradiation for patients with localized germinomas. Metastatic patients were allocated to receive low-dose craniospinal radiotherapy. Fifty-seven patients were enrolled between 1990 and 1996. Forty-seven had biopsy-proven germinoma. Biopsy was not performed in ten patients (four had diagnostic tumour markers and in six the neurosurgeon felt biopsy was contraindicated). Fifty-one patients had localized disease, and six leptomeningeal dissemination. Seven patients had bifocal tumour. All but one patient received at least four courses of chemotherapy. Toxicity was mainly haematological. Patients with diabetus insipidus (n = 25) commonly developed electrolyte disturbances during chemotherapy. No patient developed tumour progression during chemotherapy. Fifty patients received local radiotherapy with a median dose of 40 Gy to the initial tumour volume. Six metastatic patients, and one patient with localized disease who stopped chemotherapy due to severe toxicity, received craniospinal radiotherapy. The median follow-up for the group was 42 months. Four patients relapsed 9, 10, 38 and 57 months after diagnosis. Three achieved second complete remission following salvage treatment with chemotherapy alone or chemo-radiotherapy. The estimated 3-year survival probability is 98% (CI: 86.6-99.7%) and the estimated 3-year event-free survival is 96.4% (CI: 86.2-99.1%). This study shows that excellent survival rates can be achieved by combining chemotherapy and local radiotherapy in patients with non-metastatic intracranial germinomas.     

Focal and craniospinal irradiation for patients with intracranial germinoma and patterns of failure

BACKGROUND: The authors compared the patterns of failure in patients with intracranial germinoma who were managed with either chemotherapy and focal irradiation or with craniospinal irradiation (CSI). METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 21 patients with intracranial germinoma and treated with radiotherapy (RT) to the central nervous system at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1981 to 2002. The study group was comprised of 13 males and 8 females with a median age at diagnosis of 19 years. Nine patients received chemotherapy prior to focal RT. Twelve patients received CSI. RESULTS: The actuarial 10-year survival rate for all patients was 86%. The overall survival rate at 10 years was 89% for patients who received focal RT and 83% for patients who received CSI (P = .73). The 10-year local control rate in the brain for patients who received focal irradiation was 59% compared with 100% for patients who received CSI (P = .08). The rate of distant control in the spine at 5 years was 62% for patients who received focal irradiation and 100% for patients who received CSI (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Although focal techniques of irradiation with chemotherapy are attractive methods that limited the volume irradiated, the strategy appeared to be associated with increased rates of failures in the brain and spine.     

Change in treatment strategy for intracranial germinoma: long-term follow-up experience at a single institute

BACKGROUND:

Previous intracranial germinoma (IG) studies have investigated the effect of different radiotherapy (RT) volumes and the necessity for adjunctive chemotherapy, but there is currently no consensus on the best treatment for this tumor.

METHODS:

From January 1989 to December 2009, 80 IG patients (≤20 years old) were treated with various RT regimens. Of them, 14 patients had craniospinal irradiation (CSI) + primary boost (PB); 8 patients had whole‐brain irradiation (WBI) + PB; 31 patients had whole ventricular irradiation (WVI) + PB; and 27 patients had focal RT only. Twenty‐nine patients (36.2%) also received systemic chemotherapy (CHT). Survival was estimated by the Kaplan‐Meier method and variables affecting survival were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS:

Eleven patients (13.8%) developed local recurrence or dissemination after treatment, and 10 of these patients were in the focal RT group. The 5‐year relapse‐free survival (RFS) for the CSI, WBI, WVI, and focal RT patients were 100%, 85.7%, 100%, and 84.6%, respectively (P = .001). The 5‐year overall survival (OS) for CSI, WBI, WVI, and focal RT patients was 100%, 83.3%, 100%, and 87.9%, respectively (P = .125). Focal irradiation (P = .02) and initial use of CHT (P = .021) were negatively associated with RFS.

CONCLUSIONS:

Focal RT plus CHT were associated with inferior control of IG and a higher incidence of CHT‐related toxicities. Adjustment of the radiation volume to the whole ventricular system without CHT is sufficient for treatment of nondisseminated IGs, even with lower primary RT doses (<36 Gy). Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

Low-dose craniospinal irradiation as a definitive treatment for intracranial germinoma

Purpose: To determine the optimal radiotherapy (RT) dose and volume for treatment of intracranial germinoma.Materials and methods: Eighty-one intracranial germinoma patients (33 pathologically-verified; 48 presumed by radiosensitivity testing) treated with RT alone between 1971 and 2002 were analyzed. The RT volume varied from focal (13) to whole brain (8), or to the entire neuraxis (60). All the cases after 1982 received craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Radiation dose was reduced gradually during the study period from 59 to 39.3 Gy for primary tumors, and from 34.2 to 19.5 Gy for the neuraxis. The median follow-up time was 120 months (48-260 months).Results: Five- and ten-year relapse-free survival rates were 98.8% and 94.1%, respectively. All the recurrences occurred in the patients who received local (4/13) or whole brain RT (1/8). None of the patients who received CSI suffered from a recurrence. Forty-six patients received 45 Gy or less to the primary site and 22 patients received less than 20 Gy to the spinal axis.Conclusion: Low-dose CSI-based RT should remain the standard treatment for intracranial germinoma. The RT dose can be reduced to 39.3 Gy for primary tumor sites and to 19.5 Gy for the spinal axis.     

Low-dose prophylactic craniospinal radiotherapy for intracranial germinoma

PURPOSE: To report outcomes of patients with localized intracranial germinoma treated with low-dose craniospinal irradiation (CSI) followed by a boost to the ventricular system and primary site. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-one patients had pathologically confirmed intracranial germinoma and no spine metastases. Low-dose CSI was administered in 29 patients: usually 21 Gy of CSI, 9.0 Gy of ventricular boost, and a 19.5-Gy tumor boost, all at 1.5 Gy per fraction. Our neuroradiologist recorded three-dimensional tumor size on magnetic resonance images before, during, and after radiotherapy. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 7.0 years, 29 of 31 patients (94%) are disease free. One failure had nongerminomatous histology; the initial diagnosis was a sampling error. Of 3 patients who did not receive CSI, 1 died. No patient developed myelopathy, visual deficits, dementia, or skeletal growth problems. In locally controlled patients, tumor response according to magnetic resonance scan was nearly complete within 6 months after radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy alone with low-dose prophylactic CSI cures almost all patients with localized intracranial germinoma. Complications are rare when the daily dose of radiotherapy is limited to 1.5 Gy and the total CSI dose to 21 Gy. Patients without a near-complete response to radiotherapy should undergo resection to rule out a nongerminomatous element.     

Upfront chemotherapy and involved-field radiotherapy results in more relapses than extended radiotherapy for intracranial germinomas: modification in radiotherapy volume might be needed

PURPOSE: To retrospectively compare the outcome of upfront chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (CRT) and the outcome of the use of extended radiotherapy (RT) only for intracranial germinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of 81 patients with tissue-confirmed intracranial germinoma, 42 underwent CRT and 39 underwent RT only. For CRT, one to five cycles of upfront chemotherapy was followed by involved-field or extended-field RT, for which the dose was dependent on the M stage. For RT only, all 39 patients underwent craniospinal RT alone. The median follow-up was 68 months. RESULTS: The 5- and 10-year overall survival rate was 100% and 92.5% for RT alone and 92.9% and 92.9% for CRT, respectively. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 100.0% for RT and 88.1% for CRT (p = 0.0279). No recurrences developed in patients given RT, but four relapses developed in patients who had received CRT -- three in the brain and one in the spine. Only one patient achieved complete remission from salvage treatment. The proportion of patients requiring hormonal replacement was greater for patients who received RT than for those who had received CRT (p = 0.0106). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that the better quality of life provided by CRT was compensated for by the greater rate of relapse. The possible benefit of including the ventricles in involved-field RT after upfront chemotherapy, specifically for patients with initial negative seeding, should be addressed in a prospective study.     

Salvage craniospinal irradiation with an intensity modulated radiotherapy technique for patients with disseminated neuraxis disease

PurposeTo report the use and results of a novel intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)-based technique used for salvage craniospinal irradiation (CSI) in 6 patients who developed neuraxis disease after initial high-dose conformal radiotherapy (RT) to the brain.Methods and MaterialsAfter Institutional Review Board approval, all patients treated for disseminated leptomeningeal disease with salvage CSI using IMRT with conventional external beam radiotherapy were identified. The medical records and radiotherapy dosimetry were reviewed. Tolerance, morbidity, tumor control, and overall survival were evaluated.ResultsSix patients who received IMRT-based salvage CSI were identified. The median age was 6.5 years (range 2- 34 years) at initial RT and 7.7 years (range, 3-35 years) at salvage CSI. Disease progression necessitating salvage CSI was noted at a median of 10 months (range, 1-26 months) from the initial RT. The original disease site remained well controlled in all 6 patients. The median dose of the initial RT treatment was 52 Gy (range, 30.6-60 Gy). Salvage CSI dose was 36 Gy in 20 fractions in all 6 patients. IMRT was used to treat the cranial contents excluding the previously treated area. Five pediatric patients received electron beams to spine and 1 adult patient received photon beams to spine. IMRT allowed a conformal and uniform dose distribution to the target tissue while excluding previously treated areas. Salvage CSI dose of 36 Gy, delivered using IMRT and 36 Gy using electrons or photons to the spine, proved effective in providing good control of the disease.ConclusionsThis technique of salvage CSI was effective in this patient cohort for leptomeningeal dissemination occurring outside of an area of focal irradiation. The technique was well tolerated and thus far has not been associated with any significant toxicity. Salvage therapy has been effective in 4 of the 6 patients thus far.     

Salvage Radiation Therapy for Intracranial Germinoma Recurring After Primary Chemotherapy

Systemic chemotherapy has been increasingly used in the primary treatment of intracranial germinoma. However, the recurrence rate seems to be very high after treatment with chemotherapy alone. We used radiation to treat 5 patients harboring intracranial germinoma that recurred following primary chemotherapy. They had received systemic chemotherapy (4 with cisplatin plus etoposide and 1 with adriamycin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone, and cisplatin) 7–24 months before referral. All patients were treated with conventional radiotherapy directed to the primary tumor site or the craniospinal axis with a dose to the primary site ranging from 39.6 to 47.0 Gy (mean, 42.6 Gy). Response to radiation of all the recurrent tumors was good and all tumors disappeared on diagnostic imaging below the dose of 24 Gy. All patients are alive without further recurrence at 61–129 months after salvage radiotherapy. Germinomas recurring after primary chemotherapy do not seem to have acquired cross resistance to radiotherapy. They can usually be cured by standard radiation therapy with 40–47 Gy.     

Long term outcomes in patients with intracranial germinomas: a single institution experience of irradiation with or without chemotherapy

Complete remission can be achieved soon after irradiation in patients with intracranial germinoma. This study aimed to analyze the follow-up outcome of intracranial germinoma patients. About 39 intracranial germinoma patients (29 males and 10 females; average age, 15 years; range, 7–27 years) treated at Kyoto University Hospital from 1978 to 2004 were included in the study group. Six patients had multifocal disease at initial diagnosis, and 10 had human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-producing tumors. Thirteen patients were treated with craniospinal axis irradiation, 6 with whole-brain irradiation, 17 with whole-ventricle irradiation, and 3 with local field irradiation. Since 1997, 15 patients were treated with reduced–dose whole-ventricle irradiation (median, 23.4 Gy; range, 20.4–27 Gy) followed by a local boost (median, 40.8 Gy; range, 36–54 Gy) combined with chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 94 months (18 months to 25 years). The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates of the entire group were 97 and 90%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates of the entire group were 91 and 87%, respectively. The 8-year OS and PFS in 15 patients treated by whole-ventricle irradiation combined with chemotherapy were 100% and 92%, respectively. Four patients had recurrences within a median period of 59.5 months (51–85 months). All relapses occurred outside the radiation fields. Tumor site, tumor size, HCG production, multifocal disease and radiation dose to the primary site or whole ventricle did not significantly affect PFS. All initial recurrences of intracranial germinoma occurred at the distant site out of the radiation field. Our data suggested that reduced doses to the whole ventricle, combined with chemotherapy, should be sufficiently effective in patients with intracranial germinoma.