[Histopathological study of intracranial germinoma]

Eighteen cases of intracranial germinoma (16 male and 2 female, age 2.5-30 years, average 16.7) were studied. Morphologically, the pathological changes in 18 cases were similar to those of testis seminoma or ovarian dysgerminoma. Among them, two were accompanied with choriocarcinoma and one with embryonal cancer. No cytoplasmic processes was detected by silver stain, but strongly positive to PAS-stain. All of the 18 cases in this series as well as another 8 cases of testis seminoma and ovarian dysgerminoma used as controls gave a positive reaction in alkaline phosphatase stain. Among the 18 cases of germinoma, except 3 out of 18 were CEA positive, otherwise, all were CEA, beta-HCG, SP1, AFP and GFAP negative. The syncytiotrophoblasts in the choriocarcinoma and embryonal cancer mentioned before were beta-HCG and SP1 positive, and additionally, the embryonal cancer also showed AFP positive. All these results support the hypothesis that both intracranial (extragonadal) and gonadal germinoma have a common cell origin.