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Primary intramedullary spinal cord germinoma
Megha Madhukar1, Vinod G Maller, Arabinda K Choudhary
1Departments of Radiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, H066, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA. mmadhukar@hmc.psu.edu
Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics
|February 26, 2013
Summary
Primary intramedullary spinal cord germinoma (PISCG) is rare in children. This case highlights focal spinal cord atrophy as an early PISCG sign, even without a visible mass on initial imaging.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Spinal Cord Imaging
Background:
- Primary intramedullary spinal cord germinoma (PISCG) is an exceptionally rare tumor, particularly in pediatric patients.
- Typically, initial imaging reveals an intrinsic spinal cord mass.
Observation:
- A unique pediatric case presented with focal spinal cord atrophy on initial imaging, not a distinct mass.
- This atrophy represented the earliest indicator of a slowly progressing intramedullary lesion.
Findings:
- The lesion was ultimately diagnosed as PISCG via biopsy.
- This case underscores the diagnostic challenge posed by PISCG in children.
Implications:
- PISCG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric spinal cord dysfunction, even with normal MRI findings for intrinsic masses.
- Unexplained focal spinal cord atrophy warrants further investigation for rare intramedullary lesions like PISCG.
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