[Primary intracranial endodermal sinus tumor with a skull base extension--a case report].

The authors described a case of primary intracranial endodermal sinus tumor (EST), and presented a review of 24 reported cases. From the middle of December 1981, this 15-year-old boy experienced progressive diplopia. At the other hospital, partial removal of the intrasellar tumor was performed by a left frontotemporal craniotomy approximately 2 months after the onset of symptoms. The histological diagnosis was suspected to be a pituitary adenoma, and thereafter, 60Co irradiation was carried out for about a month. On June 5th. 1982, the patient was admitted to the Kochi Medical School Hospital, because of increasing headache with diplopia, hoarseness, dysphagia and limitation of tongue movement. On admission, he had a small stature for his age with moderate diabetes insipidus. Neurological examination showed left abducens, glossopharyngeal and vagal nerve palsies in addition to bitemporal hemianopsia. CT scans revealed a heterogenously enhanced high density mass lesion behind the dorsum sellae with an extension from the upper clivus to the sphenoid sinus. Cerebral angiograms showed posterior displacement of the basilar artery. In the endocrinological examination, panhypopituitarism was recognized with a high level of serum alfa-fetoprotein (AFP). While, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were in normal range. On July 1st. 1982, a left suboccipital craniectomy was performed. The tumor existed mainly in the extradural space along the clivus, and only a small intradural portion of the tumor was excited.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)