Intracranial choriocarcinoma

Last revised by Frank Gaillard on 21 Oct 2021

Intracranial choriocarcinomas are rare, accounting for only 5% of all pineal masses 2 and 10% of all intracranial germ cells tumors 1. Like other intracranial germ cell tumors, they are found both in the pineal and suprasellar region. Typically they have increased CSF and plasma b-HCG, which are helpful in establishing the diagnosis 2,3.

Radiographic features

MRI Brain

These tumors are highly vascular and have a propensity to hemorrhage (as do their metastases). If present blood products may be evident on MRI as signal drop-out and blooming on T2* sequences and intrinsic high T1 signal, which needs to be distinguished from calcification and fat respectively 2

They have a propensity to metastasize hematogenously 3.

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