Surgical management of primary central nervous system germ cell tumors

The successful treatment of children with a primary CNS germ cell tumor can be greatly influenced by the neurosurgeon involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic care of these children. Variability in surgical philosophies no doubt exists due to the relatively infrequent incidence of these tumors, a lack of consensus regarding diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and the advent of recent surgical innovations. Many of these issues were discussed at the Second International Symposium on Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors through presented abstracts and invited presentations. The neurosurgical aspects of these proceedings are summarized here in an effort to present the agreed-upon and debated issues that may confront the pediatric neurosurgeon.