Acute abdominal pain due to a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt metastasis of an intracranial germ cell tumor

Extracranial metastases of pineal germinomas are rare. The case of a metastasis of a primary intracranial germ cell tumor via a temporary-ventriculo-peritoneal shunt as a cause of acute abdominal pain is reported. The germ cell tumor markers were useful in establishing the diagnosis. With an appropriate clinical history, intra-abdominal metastases via a temporary ventriculo-peritoneal shunt should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain.