Purpose. - Retrospective analysis of 17 patients with intracranial germ cell tumors treated in a multidisciplinary consultation at the Bordeaux University Hospital a and literature review.Materials and methods. - Seventeen consecutive patients were treated from 1978 to 1995 for a primary intracranial germ cell tumor. Median age was 14 (range 3-29 years). There were two malignant teratoma, six proved germinoma and nine presumed germinoma (diagnostic based on biological, radiological and treatment criteria). All received radiotherapy from 30 to 60 Gy (median 40 Gy) in different volumes. Chemotherapy was administered in 15 cases, three after surgery and 12 after radiotherapy.Results. - All tumours were in complete remission after initial treatment. The two malignant teratomas recurred in non-irradiated area after nine and 48 months, and the patients died. None of the germinoma recurred within a follow-up period of two to 17 years (median 65 months). Five and 10 year actuarial overall survival rates were the same: 84% for all histologies and 100% for germinomas. Only two patients developed school difficulties and six presented an hypopituitarism, of which one was consecutive to radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was well tolerated.Conclusion. - This retrospective study and literature analysis are in favor of limited dose and volume of radiation therapy associated with chemotherapy.Objectif de l'etude. - Analyse retrospective des dossiers de 17 patients atteints de tumeur germinale du systeme nerveux central, traites au sein d'une consultation multidisciplinaire du centre hospitalier universitaire de Bordeaux, et revue de la litterature.Materiel et methodes. - Dix-sept patients ont ete traites consecutivement de 1978 a 1995 pour une tumeur germinale primitive du systeme nerveux central. L'age median etait de 14 ans (extremes: 3-29 ans). Il s'agissait de deux teratocarcinomes, six germinomes prouves et neuf germinomes probables (pour ces derniers, le diagnostic s'appuyait sur des criteres biologiques, radiologiques et therapeutiques). Tous ont recu une radiotherapie de 30 a 60 Gy (mediane: 40 Gy) delivree dans differents volumes. Une chimiotherapie a ete associee dans 15 cas, dont trois apres la chirurgie et 12 apres la radiotherapie.Resultats. - Toutes les tumeurs ont ete en remission complete. Deux teratocarcinomes ont rechute en dehors du volume irradie, neuf et 48 mois apres le traitement initial, et les patients sont decedes. Aucun germinome n'a rechute avec des reculs extremes de deux a 17 ans (recul median: 65 mois). Les taux de survie actuarielle etaient identiques, de 84 % a cinq et dix ans, toutes histologies confondues, et de 100 % en cas de germinome. Seuls deux patients ont eu des difficultes scolaires et six avaient un hypopituitarisme, dont un consecutif a la radiotherapie. La chimiotherapie a ete bien toleree.Conclusion. - Cette analyse retrospective et la revue de la litterature plaident en faveur d'une irradiation a dose et volume limites associee a une chimiotherapie.