EFFECTS OF THERAPY ON ANTERIOR-PITUITARY FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY INTRACRANIAL GERM-CELL TUMOR

Intracranial germ cell tumors are known to be frequently associated wi th anterior pituitary hypofunction and diabetes insipidus. In general, these manifestations are not ameliorated even after successful radiot herapy. Since platinum based chemotherapy is introduced as a therapeut ic approach to these tumors, its effectiveness is compared with the ou tcome obtained by radiotherapy in terms of tumor regression and endocr ine functions. In this study, six patients received conventional radio therapy and one received chemotherapy as an initial treatment. In all patients, complete remission was achieved irrespective of the therapeu tic method. Their diabetes insipidus was not improved. Many patients t reated with radiotherapy did not show the complete improvement of pre- existing hypofunction of the anterior pituitaries. In contrast, chemot herapy achieved almost complete hormonal remission. These clinical obs ervations suggest that chemotherapy is quite effective in oncological as well as endocrinological aspects in treating intracranial germ cell tumors.