Presentation
Headaches, nausea, vomiting.
Patient Data
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Mass lesion of the pineal region with hyperdense appearance on native scans and intense enhancement. Hydrocephalus with "pressure caps" resulting from aquaeduct obstruction.
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MRI shows a hypervascular, invasive lesion with perifocal edema and infiltration of the thalamus and superior tectal plate.
Case Discussion
Germinoma accounts for more than 50% of neoplasms in the pineal region. It is also known as dysgerminoma or extragonadal seminoma, as opposed to non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs). The latter are more resistant to radiation therapy and require higher doses.
The patient also has a non-enhancing lesion in the right petrous apex, probably a congenital cholesteatoma.