Intracranial germinoma : A rare but important differential diagnosis in children with growth retardation

Intracranial germinoma is a rare malignant tumour in childhood with an excellent prognosis under adequate therapy. Finding the right diagnosis at an early stage is difficult because of the slow-growing tumour and the resulting lack of clinical symptoms. Our patients with histologically secured germinoma were retrospectively assessed concerning growth retardation, pituitary hormone status, magnetic resonance imaging scan results and clinical symptoms to find out whether there is a leading parameter. In all our patients, the leading symptom was growth retardation of at least 2 y before being diagnosed. Growth retardation seems to be a very early sign of germinoma in the suprasellar region. Therefore, early neuroradiological imaging combined with pituitary hormone status should be considered in every paediatric patient with a history of secondary growth retardation.