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Disorders
We Treat
Pineal Tumors
For pineal tumors, including the germinoma, the decisions related to treatment
depend upon the complete understanding of the competing risks vs. benefits
for the different treatments. Options for pineal tumor treatment may include
pineal tumor surgery, pineal tumor radiosurgery, or gamma knife. The important
considerations include the age of the patient, the size and rate of growth
of the pineal tumor, as well as the progression of any symptoms.
Destruction of pineal tissue can reduce
or even ablate melatonin production, but pineocytomas have rarely been
associated with increased circulating levels of melatonin. Melatonin production
decreases with age, but this decrease does not seem to be related to pineal
calcification. By occluding the cerebral aqueduct, pineal tumors can produce
symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure, sometimes necessitating
a shunt. Through pressure on the quadrigeminal plate, pineal tumors can
produce Parinaud's syndrome, which includes paresis of upward conjugate
gaze. Some germinomas and embryonal carcinomas secrete human chorionic
gonadotropin, which has been implicated in cases of delayed onset of puberty.
For pineal tumors, including the germinoma,
the decisions related to treatment depend upon the complete understanding
of the competing risks vs. benefits for the different treatments. Options
for pineal tumor treatment may include pineal tumor surgery, pineal tumor
radiosurgery, or gamma knife. The important considerations include the
age of the patient, the size and rate of growth of the pineal tumor, as
well as the progression of any symptoms.
Destruction of pineal tissue can reduce
or even ablate melatonin production, but pineocytomas have rarely been
associated with increased circulating levels of melatonin. Melatonin production
decreases with age, but this decrease does not seem to be related to pineal
calcification. By occluding the cerebral aqueduct, pineal tumors can produce
symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure, sometimes necessitating
a shunt. Through pressure on the quadrigeminal plate, pineal tumors can
produce Parinaud's syndrome, which includes paresis of upward conjugate
gaze. Some germinomas and embryonal carcinomas secrete human chorionic
gonadotropin, which has been implicated in cases of delayed onset of puberty.
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