Paediatric germ cell tumours of the central nervous system: Results and experience from a tertiary-referral paediatric institution in Australia

A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients with intracranial germ cell tumours diagnosed and treated from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2007 to assess and determine demographic factors and treatment outcomes of children with these tumours treated in a major paediatric referral hospital in Australia. In this study, intracranial germ cell tumours represented 4.8% of paediatric brain tumours seen. Of the 21 patients identified, 15 (71.4%) were diagnosed with pure germinoma and six (28.6%) with non-germinomatous germ cell tumours (NGGCT) or mixed tumours. One patient received chemotherapy alone, two patients were treated with radiation alone and the remaining 18 received a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A total of 33 neurosurgical operations were performed with 15 biopsies via open, endoscopic or transphenoidal means; nine open resections; and nine procedures for hydrocephalus comprising seven third ventriculostomies and two ventriculoperitoneal shunts. For patients with pure germinomas, the 5-year disease-free rate (DFS) was 93.3%, and overall survival (OS) rate was 100% compared to NGGCT or mixed tumours (DFS 50%; OS 50%) (DFS p = 0.019, OS p = 0.004). The data presented show that pure germinomas carry a favourable prognosis. The data also support that treatment with induction chemotherapy followed by dose-attenuated radiotherapy is an effective alternative with results comparable to historical controls treated with craniospinal irradiation. Although chemoradiotherapy has become the mainstay of treatment in intracranial germ cell tumours, surgery remains integral to the management of this condition. Surgery remains important in establishing the histological diagnosis, as well as in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Furthermore, debulking procedures may be advocated in NGGCT as they are often resistant to chemotherapy.