Pinealoma

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Pinealoma
Pineocytoma
SpecialtyOncology
TreatmentSurgical resection, radiation therapy

A pinealoma is a tumor of the pineal gland, a part of the brain that produces melatonin. If a pinealoma destroys the cells of the pineal gland in a child, it can cause precocious puberty.

Signs and symptoms

The pineal gland produces the hormone

circadian rhythms. A pinealoma may disrupt production of this hormone, and insomnia may result.[citation needed
]

Frequently, paralysis of upward gaze along with several ocular findings such as convergence retraction nystagmus and eyelid retraction also known as

cranial nerve III. Work-up usually includes Neuro-imaging as seen on the right.[citation needed
]

A pinealoma may cause interruption of hypothalamic inhibiting pathways, sometimes leading to beta-hCG secretion and consequent Leydig's cell stimulation (endocrine syndrome).[citation needed]

Other symptoms may include

gait disturbances, and precocious puberty.[citation needed
]

Cause

Pinealomas can be due to proliferation of primary

pineocytomas, pineoblastomas), astrocytes (astrocytoma), or germ cells (germinoma).[2] Germinomas are the most common tumor in the pineal gland.[citation needed
]

Diagnosis

Treatment

Some pinealomas are treated by

radiotherapy
, since surgical removal may be impossible due to the location. Radiotherapy can be successful in killing the tumour, and 50% of patients undergoing it survive to old age.

Prognosis

Of the different types of pinealomas, the type with the most favorable prognosis is the pineocytoma.[3]

References

  1. PMID 12959450
    .
  2. ^ "eMedicine - Germinoma, Central Nervous System : Article by Daniel D Mais, MD". Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  3. PMID 15271241
    .

External links
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