Anaplastic astrocytoma post radiotherapy of pineal germinoma.

Dra. Martha Tena-Suck – Departamento de Neuropatología / Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía “Manuel Velasco Suárez” Av. Insurgentes Sur, 3788 Col. La fama, Delegación Tlalpan C.P. 14269 México DF México. E-mail: [email protected] Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs), especially pineal tumors have attracted the special attention of neuropathologists and neurosurgeons because of their unique growth sites, characteristic subtypes with different histology, and high incidence in Japan and other Asian countries. They are usually arise in midline structures, including the pineal or suprasellar regions, more commonly seen in pediatric patients than in adults. Radiosurgery is increasingly being used to treat pineal region tumors, either as an additional therapy after conventional treatments, the potential for late effects makes the treatment controversial. Radiation-induced intracranial neoplasms are uncommon but well described and include gliomas, meningiomas, and sarcomas. Germinoma developing an anaplastic astrocytoma is a rare event of radiation-induced intracranial tumors.