Consequences of an intracranial germ cell-tumor in a young adolescent.

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are relatively rare tumors, which arise in patients of all ages. They are most common in the first and second decades of life with a male predominance. The most frequent tumors arise in the pineal and suprasellar region. The long-term consequences of these tumors have not been very well characterized, as few series with a limited number of patients have reported on the neuro-endocrine development and quality of life of these young people. In this communication we present a male patient who was diagnosed clinically in 1998 at the age of 17 years to have a GCT and subsequently treated with radiotherapy. Today, 6 years after the initial diagnosis his neuro-endocrine and neuro-cognitive outcomes are quite good, while his quality of life is poor mainly due to many psychological problems that he experiences in his every day life. However, it has to be noted that 6 years is insufficient follow-up to assess late post radiation effects.