Pineal Tumors

Incidence

  • Germinomas: Pineal region germinomas occur most often in adolescent males
  • Pinoblastomas: In very youn children, the most common pineal region tumors are pineoblastomas.

Presentations

  • pineal region tumors present most often with increased intracranial pressure due to the compression of the Sylvian aqueduct
  • Ocular signs are classicaly noted include features of Parinaud's syndrome:
    • decreased upward gaze
    • abnormal pupillary responses
    • and diminished convergence.

Differential

Germ Cell Tumors
Pineoblastoma (see Embryonal Tumors of CNS of CNS)
Glioma: Ependymal types
Gliomas (Low-Grade): Oliogdendro- and Astro- types
Pineocytoma
Pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation

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