Primary spinal conus medullaris germinoma

Yang Chen; Chia-Wen Li; Wei-Lung Tseng

doi:10.1136/bcr-2024-263168

Primary spinal conus medullaris germinoma

BMJ Case Rep. 2025 Jan 14;18(1):e263168. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2024-263168.

Authors

Yang Chen¹, Chia-Wen Li², Wei-Lung Tseng³

Affiliations

¹ Surgery, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
² Neurosurgery, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
³ Neurosurgery, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan [email protected].

PMID: 39809487
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2024-263168

Abstract

A woman in her early 20s presented with progressive low back pain, leg weakness and sphincter dysfunction. MRI revealed a 5 × 1.5 cm intramedullary tumour at the T12-L2 level. Elevated preoperative beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were noted. Surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis of a germinoma. Postoperative MRI showed no additional lesions. The patient underwent localized radiation therapy, but recurrence was noted 10 months later.

Keywords: Neurooncology; Neurosurgery; Spinal cord.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Female
Germinoma* / diagnosis
Germinoma* / diagnostic imaging
Germinoma* / radiotherapy
Humans
Low Back Pain / etiology
Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Spinal Cord Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Spinal Cord Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
Spinal Cord Neoplasms* / surgery
Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
Young Adult