To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes and recurrence patterns in patients with intracranial germinoma treated at a single institution over four decades, highlighting the significance of these findings for clinical practice.
Approach:
Key Findings:
5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year OS rates for germinoma are reported as 95.4–100%, 92.3%–100%, 87.9%, 80.6–87.0%, and 61.9%, respectively, indicating excellent long-term survival.
5- and 10-year PFS rates are 78.0–91.0% and 74–96.7%, respectively, suggesting a need for ongoing monitoring.
Recurrence outside the irradiation field occurs, but spinal dissemination is extremely rare, emphasizing the importance of targeted treatment strategies.
Interpretation:
Despite high survival rates, recurrence remains a significant concern, necessitating long-term management strategies that include regular monitoring and potential adjustments in treatment protocols.
Limitations:
Lack of observational studies exceeding 10 years related to long-term outcomes and recurrence risk factors, which limits the generalizability of findings.
Potential misclassification bias in RT coverage despite efforts to minimize it, which could affect the reliability of recurrence data.
Conclusion:
Long-term outcomes for intracranial germinoma are favorable, but recurrence and late adverse effects pose ongoing challenges, highlighting the need for future research to optimize management strategies.
