We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Primary medulla oblongata germinomas: two case reports and review of the literature.
- Authors
Shuyu Hao; Da Li; Jie Feng; Liang Wang; Zhen Wu; Junting Zhang; Liwei Zhang
- Abstract
An intracranial germinoma is a tumor that is sensitive to radiotherapy. As medulla oblongata germinomas are extremely rare, determining an accurate preoperative diagnosis is challenging. Two cases of medulla oblongata lesions were surgically treated, and a postoperative diagnosis of germinoma was determined in both of the cases. The tumor in one patient completely resolved after a treatment course consisting of surgical intervention, radiotherapy and chemotherapy; the other patient, who did not receive any type of adjuvant treatment after surgery, suffered from tumor relapse and died from pneumonia 8 months following surgery. A preoperative diagnosis of medulla oblongata germinoma is difficult because of the lack of specific clinical signs and symptoms. If the correct diagnosis is reached, patients can have a favorable prognosis with proper evaluation and treatment. An invasive operation can potentially lesion and impair the function of the medulla oblongata, which is fatal to the patient.
- Subjects
MEDULLA oblongata; RADIOTHERAPY; ADJUVANT treatment of cancer; CANCER chemotherapy; PROGNOSIS
- Publication
World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2013, Vol 11, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1477-7819
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/1477-7819-11-274