Suprasellar germ cell tumor with extracranial metastases

A case of metastasizing suprasellar germ cell tumor is described. Serum tumor markers were measured and the immunochemistry of the tumor was studied. The rarity of extracranial metastasis from suprasellar germinomas is noted, and the relevance to mixed tumors is discussed. The difficulties associated with small biopsies and the importance of tumor marker studies in all cases of an intracranial germ cell tumor are emphasized by the case study.