Central diabetes insipidus as first clinical sign of cerebral germinoma: Case reports

Clinical presentation of germinomas depends on tumor localization with symptoms due to compression of cerebral structures. Two cases (male children) are presented, referred for polyuria and polydipsia. During follow-up also anterior pituitary function became insufficient with slow growth velocity. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a lack of posterior pituitary gland and partial pituitary stalk enlargement with a bifocal lesion. Describing these case reports, the importance is stressed not only of a precocious diagnosis in order to improve prognosis of the disease, but also the need of careful follow-up in those patients.