OBJECTIVETo assess the quality of life (QOL) of a group of patients treated for intracranial germinoma with biopsy followed by prophylactic whole-neuraxis radiation therapy.METHODSThe Short-form-36 and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy QOL questionnaires were completed by 22 of 27 eligible adults treated with whole-neuraxis irradiation for biopsy-proven, marker-negative intracranial germinomas between 1976 and 1996. In addition, data were obtained regarding height and weight, medications, ability to work, and educational achievement.RESULTSThe patients’ QOL was generally good. All of the patients are in or have completed high school; nine are in or have completed college, and five have advanced degrees. Patients rated themselves lower on the physical composite scale of the Short-form-36 (average, 46 versus 54 in a normal population). On the mental composite scale, patients rated themselves more favorably than the normal population (average, 54 versus 49 in a normal population). Patients were normally proportioned for height and weight, but female patients tended to be short. Age at radiation did not correlate with QOL.CONCLUSIONThe QOL of adults treated for marker-negative germinoma with prophylactic whole-neuraxis irradiation is generally good. These data should serve as a benchmark for newer treatment protocols eliminating or reducing radiation.