Intracranial germinoma manifesting as cavernous sinus syndrome--case report.

An 11-year-old girl presented with a rare case of neurohypophyseal germinoma manifesting as cavernous sinus syndrome with left abducens nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a mass located in the left cavernous sinus. Biopsy revealed an inflammatory reaction with lymphocytic infiltration. Postoperative MR imaging showed regression of the mass. Her eye movements were also restored. However, after 5 months, she developed right oculomotor and abducens nerve palsy, and MR imaging showed a large suprasellar mass invading the bilateral cavernous sinuses. The transcranial biopsy sample showed positive staining for placental alkaline phosphatase and c-kit, and the diagnosis of germinoma was confirmed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were administered, and the patient has been in complete remission for over 4 years.