Skip to main content

Tumors of the Pineal Region

  • Chapter
Oncology of CNS Tumors

Abstract

The term “pineal region tumors” includes both the neoplasms originating from the pineal body and those originating from the adjacent anatomical structures, such as the thalamus, the dorsal midbrain, and the fal-cotentorium. The term “pineal tumors” indicates the former. Glial tumors originating from the tectum and meningiomas originating from the falcotentorial junction are not a true pineal tumor. Primary pineal tumors are mainly composed of two categories of brain neoplasms, pineal parenchymal tumors and germ cell tumors (Table 14.1).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Allen JC, Kim JH, Packer RJ. (1987) Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for newly diagnosed germ-cell tumors of the central nervous system. J Neurosurg 67:65–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Allen JC, DaRosso RC, Donahue B, Nirenberg A. (1994) A phase II trial of preirradiation carboplatin in newly diagnosed germinoma of the central nervous system. Cancer 74:940–944

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Aoyama H, Shirato H, Ikeda J, Fujieda K, Miyasaka K, Sawamura Y. (2002) Induction chemotherapy followed by low-dose involved-field radiotherapy for intracranial germ cell tumors. J Clin Oncol 20:857–865

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bader JL, Miller RW, Meadows AT, Zimmerman LE, Champion LA, Voute PA. (1980) Trilateral retinoblastoma. Lancet 2:582–583

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Balmaceda C, Heller G, Rosenblum M, Diez B, Villablanca JG, Kellie S, Maher P, Vlamis V, Walker RW, Leibel S, Finlay JL. (1996) Chemotherapy without irradiation — a novel approach for newly diagnosed CNS germ cell tumors: results of an international cooperative trial. J Clin Oncol 14:2908–2915

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bamberg M, Kortmann RD, Calaminus G, Becker G, Meisner C, Harms D, Gobel U. (1999) Radiation therapy for intracranial germinoma: results of the German cooperative prospective trials MAKEI 83/86/89. J Clin Oncol 17:2585–2592

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bayens YC, Helle PA, Van Putten WL, Mali SP. (1992) Orchidectomy followed by radiotherapy in 176 stage I and II testicular seminoma patients: benefits of a 10-year follow-up study. Radiother Oncol 25:97–102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Brown AE, Leibundgut K, Niggli FK, Betts DR. (2006) Cytogenetics of pineoblastoma: four new cases and a literature review. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 170:175–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Calaminus G, Bamberg M, Baranzelli MC, Benoit Y, di Montezemolo LC, Fossati-Bellani F, Jurgens H, Kuhl HJ, Lenard HG, Curto ML. (1994) Intracranial germ cell tumors: a comprehensive update of the European data. Neuropediatrics 25:26–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chang SM, Lillis-Hearne PK, Larson DA, Wara WM, Bollen AW, Prados MD. (1995) Pineoblastoma in adults. Neurosurgery 37:383–390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Chiechi M V, Smirniotopoulos JG, Mena H. (1995) Pineal parenchymal tumors: CT and MR features. J Comput Assist Tomogr 19:509–171

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. D'Andrea AD, Packer RJ, Rorke LB, Bilaniuk LT, Sutton LN, Bruce DA, Schut L. (1987) Pineocytomas of childhood. A reappraisal of natural history and response to therapy. Cancer 59:1353–1357

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Echevarria ME, Fangusaro J, Goldman S. (2008) Pediatric central nervous system germ cell tumors: a review. Oncologist 13:690–699

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Fauchon F, Jouvet A, Paquis P, Saint-Pierre G, Mottolese C, Ben Hassel M, Chauveinc L, Sichez JP, Philippon J, Schlienger M, Bouffet E. (2000) Parenchymal pineal tumors: a clinicopathological study of 76 cases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 46(4):959–68

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fevre-Montange M, Champier J, Szathmari A, Wierinckx A, Mottolese C, Guyotat J, Figarella-Branger D, Jouvet A, Lachuer J. (2006) Microarray analysis reveals differential gene expression patterns in tumors of the pineal region. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 65:675–684

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Horwich A, Shipley J, Huddart R. (2006) Testicular germ-cell cancer. Lancet 367:754–765

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Jakacki RI, Zeltzer PM, Boyett JM, Albright AL, Allen JC, Geyer JR, Rorke LB, Stanley P, Stevens KR, Wisoff J, et al (1995) Survival and prognostic factors following radiation and/or chemotherapy for primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the pineal region in infants and children: a report of the Childrens Cancer Group. J Clin Oncol 13:1377–1383

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jouvet A, Saint-Pierre G, Fauchon F, Privat K, Bouffet E, Ruchoux MM, Chauveinc L, Fevre-Montange M. (2000) Pineal parenchymal tumors: a correlation of histological features with prognosis in 66 cases. Brain Pathol 10(1):49–60

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kamakura Y, Hasegawa M, Minamoto T, Yamashita J, Fujisawa H. (2006) C-kit gene mutation: common and widely distributed in intracranial germinomas. J Neurosurg 104:173–180

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kochi M, Itoyama Y, Shiraishi S, Kitamura I, Marubayashi T, Ushio Y. (2003) Successful treatment of intracranial non-germinomatous malignant germ cell tumors by administering neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy before excision of residual tumors. J Neurosurg 99:106–114

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Li MH, Bouffet E, Hawkins CE, Squire JA, Huang A. (2005) Molecular genetics of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors and pineoblastoma. Neurosurg Focus 19:E3

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Lutterbach J, Fauchon F, Schild SE, Chang SM, Pagenstecher A, Volk B, Ostertag C, Momm F, Jouvet A. (2002) Malignant pineal parenchymal tumors in adult patients: patterns of care and prognostic factors. Neurosurgery 51:44–55

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sawamura Y, de Tribolet N, Ishii N, Abe H. (1997) Surgical management of primary intracranial germinomas: diagnostic surgery or radical Resection ? J Neurosurg 87:262–266

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sawamura Y, Ikeda J, Shirato H, Tada M, Abe H. (1998) Germ cell tumors of the central nervous system: treatment consideration based on 111 cases and their long-term clinical outcomes. Eur J Cancer 34:104–110

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sawamura Y, de Tribolet N. (2001) Neurosurgical management of pineal tumors. Adv Tech Stand Neurosurg 27:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  26. Schild SE, Scheithauer BW, Schomberg PJ, Hook CC, Kelly PJ, Frick L, Robinow JS, Buskirk SJ. (1993) Pineal parenchymal tumors. Clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic aspects. Cancer 72:870–880

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Schneider DT, Zahn S, Sievers S, Alemazkour K, Reifenberger G, Wiestler OD, Calaminus G, Gobel U, Perlman EJ. (2006) Molecular genetic analysis of central nervous system germ cell tumors with comparative genomic hybridization. Mod Pathol 19:864–873

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Shirato H, Aoyama H, Ikeda J, Fujieda K, kato N, Ishi N, Miyasaka K, Iwasaki Y, Sawamura Y. (2004) Impact of margin for target volume in low-dose involved field radiotherapy after induction chemotherapy for intracranial germinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 60:214–217

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. The Committee of Brain Tumor Registry of Japan (BTRJ). (2003) Brain Tumor Registry of Japan (BTRJ 1969–1996). 11th edition, Neurol-Med Chir 43(Suppl):29

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yutaka Sawamura .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sawamura, Y., Radovanovic, I., de Tribolet, N. (2010). Tumors of the Pineal Region. In: Tonn, JC., Westphal, M., Rutka, J.T. (eds) Oncology of CNS Tumors. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02874-8_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02874-8_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-02873-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-02874-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics