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Pineoblastoma is a rare, aggressive brain tumor that originates from the pineal gland and is more common in children under 20. Symptoms include hydrocephalus, changes in vision, personality, and weight. Diagnosis is made using MRI, CT scan, and lumbar puncture. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
A pineoblastoma is an aggressive, malignant brain tumor that originates from the pineal gland, a small organ located near the center of the brain. A rare form of brain cancer, pineoblastomas account for only 10 to 10 percent of the total primary malignant brain tumors in children and adults. This type of tumor is usually found in patients younger than twenty years of age and is more common in children aged XNUMX and younger.
The pineal gland is a tiny endocrine organ that sits between the two hemispheres of the brain. Shaped like a pair of pine cones, the pineal gland produces the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate sleep patterns. More than 17 different types of benign and malignant tumors can arise in the pineal region of the brain. A pineoblastoma is one of the more common types of tumors in this area. The underlying cause of a pineoblastoma is currently unknown.
One of the most frequent findings of a pineoblastoma is hydrocephalus, an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in the brain. This is often due to the tumor compressing the aqueduct of Sylvius, which is located near the pineal gland. The aqueduct of Sylvius is a passageway that allows cerebrospinal fluid to exit the brain, where it is produced. When CSF flow is blocked, the patient may experience typical symptoms of the condition, including vision problems, memory difficulties, headaches, nausea with vomiting, and seizures.
Hydrocephalus can be a life-threatening condition that may require immediate surgery. This can be accomplished by placing a ventriculoperitoneal shunt into one of the spaces in the brain containing the excess CSF, allowing it to drain into the abdomen. Another surgical technique to treat hydrocephalus is the stereotactic third ventriculostomy, which creates a small hole in the lower part of the brain through which cerebrospinal fluid can drain.
Other common symptoms of a pineoblastoma are related to changes in the patient’s vision. This is due to the tumor’s proximity to the tectal region, which plays a key role in regulating eye movements. Patients with a pineoblastoma may, therefore, have difficulty focusing on objects and may experience double vision. Symptoms of a pineoblastoma that aren’t related to vision include changes in personality, weakness or loss of sensation on one side of the body, changes in weight or appetite, and fatigue or an increased need for sleep.
Diagnosing a pineoblastoma is often made using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can show the exact location and size of the tumor. A computed tomography (CT) scan or MRI can also show the extent of hydrocephalus. A lumbar puncture (LP), also known as a lumbar puncture, can be useful in obtaining a CSF sample, as some pineoblastomas can excrete abnormal levels of certain hormones and chemicals, including Beta-HCG, AFP, and CEA, which can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid or blood. A surgical biopsy using a minimally invasive technique, such as endoscopy or stereotactic needle biopsy, may also be needed to make a definitive diagnosis.
Pineoblastomas can be treated by surgery. This can provide a cure, if the entire tumor is removed, or it can help improve the prognosis by reducing the size of the tumor. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy, to which over 70% of pineoblastomas respond, are also often used as treatment.
