Pineal embryonal carcinoma
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sujit Routray, M.D. [2]
Synonyms and keywords:
Overview
- Pineal embryonal carcinoma is a relatively rare malignant neoplasm and accounts for a small prportion of all intracranial germ cell tumors. It is an aggressive tumor and has a propensity to metastasise systemically. A component of embryonal carcinoma is often found in mixed germ-cell tumours, in which case it usually the most aggressive component, and dictates prognosis. Pure pineal embryonal carcinoma tumors do not secrete β-HCG or AFP.[1]
- On microscopic histopathological analysis, pineal embryonal carcinoma is characterized by poorly differentiated, pleomorphic cells in cords, sheets, or papillary formation.
References
- ↑ Intracranial embryonal carcinoma. Frank Gaillard et al. Radiopaedia 2015. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/intracranial-embryonal-carcinoma. Accessed on December 4, 2015