Germ Cell Brain Tumors | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of germ cell brain tumors?
Brain tumors can cause a variety of symptoms in children based primarily on the location of the tumor. Keep in mind that the symptoms of a brain tumor may resemble other more common conditions or medical problems. It is important to consult your child's physician for persistent symptoms.
Symptoms of germ cell brain tumors typically depend on where they have developed in the brain. For tumors in the pineal gland region, children can have the following symptoms:
- hydrocephalus (swelling of the brain)
- headache
- vomiting
- fatigue
- behavioral or cognitive changes
- uncoordinated body movement (ataxia)
- vision changes, including double vision and difficulty looking up
For tumors in the suprasellar or pituitary gland region, common symptoms include:
- diabetes insipidus
- delayed puberty
- early (precocious) puberty
- stunted growth
- vision changes including loss of peripheral vision or decrease in vision
What causes germ cell brain tumors?
The cause of germ cell brain tumors is not well known. Usually, germ cells migrate to the gonads during fetal development and become an egg in the female ovaries or sperm in the male testes. However, when these germ cells don’t move to the right area, they become trapped in the brain and multiply in areas where they shouldn’t. It’s important to understand that these and other brain tumors most often occur with no known cause.
Germ Cell Brain Tumors | Diagnosis & Treatments
How are germ cell brain tumors diagnosed?
The first step in treating your child is forming an accurate and complete diagnosis. Germ cell brain tumors are typically diagnosed using a combination of imaging and biopsy. As with other brain tumors, diagnostic procedures for germ cell tumors of the brain can determine the exact type of tumor and whether it has spread.
Your child’s physician may order a number of different tests including:
- physical exam and complete medical history
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- computerized tomography scan (CT or CAT scan)
- blood tests to check for tumor markers
- lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
There may be other diagnostic tests that your doctor will discuss with you depending on your child's individual situation.
What are the treatment options for germ cell brain tumors?
Your child's physician will determine a specific course of treatment based on several factors, including your child's age, overall health and medical history, the type, location, and size of the tumor and the extent of the disease.
Treatments for germ cell brain tumors include:
- neurosurgery
- endoscopic third ventriculostomy or ventriculo-peritoneal shunt
- radiation therapy
- chemotherapy
What is the long-term outlook for children with germ cell brain tumors?
The prognosis for children with germ cell brain tumors depends on the type of tumor. In general, germinomas are cured in greater than 90 percent of cases with combined treatment. Non-germinomatous germ cell tumors have a 65 percent to 85 percent cure rate, depending on their spread at diagnosis. Mixed germ cell brain tumors are generally more difficult to treat.
Children treated for a germ cell tumor in the brain should visit a survivorship clinic every year to manage disease complications, screen for recurrence and manage late treatment side effects. A typical follow-up visit is likely to include a physical exam, laboratory testing and imaging scans.
At the Stop and Shop Family Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Outcomes Clinic children meet with their neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, pediatric neuro-oncologist and neurologists at the same follow-up visit. Our multidisciplinary approach and depth of expertise also give your child on-site access to endocrinologists, neuro-psychologists and alternative/complementary therapy specialists. School liaison and psychosocial personnel from the pediatric brain tumor team are also available.
