Primary intracranial germinoma involving the medulla oblongata--case report.

A 30-year-old female presented with intracranial germinoma involving both the medulla oblongata and suprasellar region. Such involvement of medulla oblongata with initial clinical symptoms similar to brainstem glioma has not been previously reported. Combination chemotherapy using cisplatin and etoposide achieved disappearance of the suprasellar tumor, and decreased size of the medulla oblongata tumor. Relapse occurred 6 months after first treatment, when combination chemotherapy with etoposide and carboplatin achieved reduction in tumor size again.