| Neurosurgery | | | | region, and will lead first to headaches, and then |
| Pineal Region Tumors | | | | perhaps to nausea, vomiting, and altered mental |
| The pineal gland develops during the second month | | | | status. The brainstem and the cerebellum are the |
| of gestation as a diverticulum in the diencephalic roof | | | | most common sites of compression from a pineal |
| of the third ventricle. It is flanked by the posterior | | | | region tumor; compression in these regions can cause |
| and habenular commissures in the rostral portion of | | | | abnormal eye movements (including Parinaud's |
| the midbrain directly below the splenium of the | | | | syndrome, the inability to look up), double vision, |
| corpus callosum. The velum interpositum is found | | | | uncoordinated body movements, or unsteady gait. |
| rostral and dorsal to the pineal gland and contains the | | | | Endocrine dysfunction is less common and usually is |
| internal cerebral veins, which join to form the vein of | | | | caused when the tumor involves the hypothalamus, a |
| Galen. | | | | nearby brain region that is involved in growth and |
| Pineal region tumors are derived from cells located in | | | | metabolism. |
| and around the pineal gland. The principle cell of the | | | | Diagnosis |
| pineal gland is the pineal parenchymal cell or pinocyte. | | | | As with other brain tumors, imaging studies are the |
| This cell is a specialized neuron related to retinal rods | | | | key component in the diagnosis of pineal region |
| and cones. The pinocyte is surrounded by a stroma | | | | masses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans |
| of fibrillary astrocytes, which interact with adjoining | | | | primarily are used. They can show the size and |
| blood vessels to form part of the blood-pial barrier. | | | | characteristics of the tumor, and can indicate the |
| Symptoms | | | | presence of hydrocephalus. Computed tomography |
| Regardless of the type of tumor involved, tumors in | | | | (CT) scans, which can help detect the presence of |
| the pineal region usually cause symptoms through | | | | calcification or hardening in the tumor, also are used. |
| one of three mechanisms. They can increase | | | | |
| pressure in the skull by blocking the flow of | | | | Please log on to:Pineal Region Tumors |
| cerebrospinal fluid (hydrocephalus), they can | | | | Please log on to :Neurosurgery |
| compress part of the brain, or they can cause | | | | We Care Core Values |
| disruptions in the endocrine system, the system that | | | | "We have a very simple business model that keeps |
| controls hormones and includes the pineal gland. | | | | you as the centre. |
| Hydrocephalus is a common result of tumors in this | | | | |