Human chorionic gonadotrophin in CSF, not serum, predicts outcome in germinoma.

OBJECTIVES Some intracranial germinomas, which may contain syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells (STGCs), are associated with a mildly to moderately increased human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) concentration in serum, and patients with such germinomas are thus treated more aggressively than those with "pure" germinoma. However, the patients with germinoma and detectable HCG in CSF but not in serum have been classified and treated similarly to those with "pure" germinomas. The outcome of these patients and the relevance of HCG in the CSF were analysed. METHODS The outcomes of patients with germinoma and increased serum HCG concentration (n=7) were compared with those of patients having detectable HCG titre in the CSF but not in the serum (n=5). RESULTS Both groups in our series received similar treatments and also showed similar recurrence rates. The 40% recurrence rate in the group with HCG only in CSF did not correspond to the rate typical for "pure" germinoma: these tumours would be expected to have a better outcome. An additional patient whose CSF HCG were raised without increased serum HCG at recurrence is presented. CONCLUSIONS It is recommended that patients with an increased HCG concentration in CSF should be considered to have "HCG producing germinoma", and they should be treated and followed up accordingly.