PRIMARY INTRACRANIAL GERM-CELL TUMORS WITHOUT AN ISOCHROMOSOME 12P

Primary intracranial germ cell tumors are the result of the transforma tion of primordial cells that are unable to migrate to their normal pl ace. These tumors are rare, accounting for less than 5% of all intracr anial tumors and less than 3% of childhood neoplasias. In this paper, we have studied cytogenetically two primary intracranial germ cell tum ors, a pineal region germinoma, and a mature teratoma in the right lat eral ventricle. Neither tumor presented polyploidy or isochromosome 12 p, considered to be characteristic of gonadal germ cell tumors. In the five reports in the literature, only one intracranial germ cell tumor presented i(12p). Perhaps i(12p) negative cases characterize a subtyp e of germ cell tumors. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1998.