Tumors of the Pineal Region in Children and Adolescents

  • R. Kalff
  • H. E. Clar
  • M. Bamberg
  • J. Holldack
Part of the Acta Neurochirurgica Supplementum book series (NEUROCHIRURGICA, volume 35)

Summary

The treatment of tumors in the pineal area remains controversial. There are two main approaches:

Conservative treatment, consisting in CSF shunting and radiotherapy, and direct surgical removal.

We report on 25 children (22 boys and 3 girls) aged between 4 and 20 years who underwent conservative treatment. The follow-up period ranges from 1 to 11 years (mean, 4.8 years). 19 patients are still alive at a mean survival time of 5.8 years. 17 children are free of disease, two have severe neurological deficits.

Our diagnostic and therapeutical concepts are presented.

Keywords

Pineal tumor radiotherapy CSF shunt pinealoma 

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    Abay, E. O., Laws, E. R., et al. Pineal tumors in children and adolescents. J. Neurosurg. 55 (1981), 889–895.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    De Girolami, U., Schmidek, H., Clinico pathological study of 53 tumors of the pineal region. J. Neurosurg. 39 (1973), 455–462.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Fowler, F. D., Alexander, E., jr., Davis, C. H., jr., Pinealoma with matastases in the central nervous system. J. Neurosurg. 13 (1956), 271–278.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Lazar, M. L., Clark, K., Direct surgical management of masses in the region of the vein of Galen. Surg. Neurol. 2 (1974), 17–21.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Neuwelt, E. A., Glasberg, M., Frenkel, E., et al, Malignant pineal region tumors. A chnico-pathological study. J. Neurosurg. 51 (1979), 597–607.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Obrador, S., Soto, M., Gutierrez-Diaz, J. A., Surgical management of tumors of the pineal region. Acta Neurochir. 34 (1976), 159–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Russel, D. S., Rubinstein, L. J., Pathology of Tumors of the Nervous System, 4th ed., pp.283–298. London: Edward Arnold. 1977.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Sano, K., Diagnosis and treatment of tumors in the pineal region. Acta Neurochir. 34 (1976), 153–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Stein, B. M., Surgical treatment of pineal tumors. Clin. Neurosurg. 26 (1979), 490–510.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Stein, B. M., Supra cerebellar-infratentorial approach to pineal tumors. Surg. Neurol. 11 (1979), 331–337.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Sung, D., Harisiadis, L., Chang, C. H., Midline pineal tumors and suprasellar germinomas: Highly curable by irradiation. Radiology 128 (1978), 745–751.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Ventureyra, E. C. G., Pineal region: surgical management of tumors and vascular malformations. Surg.Neurol. 16 (1981), 77–84.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Wood, J. H., Zimmermann, R. A., Bruce, D. A., et al. Assessment and management of pineal-region and related tumors. Surg. Neurol. 16 (1981).Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag/Wien 1985

Authors and Affiliations

  • R. Kalff
    • 1
  • H. E. Clar
    • 1
  • M. Bamberg
    • 2
  • J. Holldack
    • 3
  1. 1.Neurochirurgische Klinik und PoliklinikUniversitätsklinikum EssenEssenFederal Republic of Germany
  2. 2.Departments of RadiotherapyUniversity EssenFederal Republic of Germany
  3. 3.Departments of PediatricsUniversity EssenFederal Republic of Germany

Personalised recommendations