Germinoma causing wallerian degeneration. Case report and review of the literature.

Germinomas occurring in the thalamus and basal ganglia sometimes cause atrophy of the cerebral hemisphere on the affected side. The authors present the case of a 12-year-old girl with a germinoma that developed in the basal frontal lobe and cerebral basal ganglia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed atrophy not only of the cerebrum but also of the brainstem. A T2-weighted image revealed an area of high intensity that proved to be wallerian degeneration extending from the corona radiata and internal capsule to the brainstem. The authors suggest that this pathological change may be involved in the development of the symptoms and hemiatrophy associated with germinomas in this region of the brain.