Pineal Tumours

Overview

Contents
Description of Tumour
Symptoms
Treatment / Standard of Care
Prognosis
References

Description of Tumour

Pineal tumours arise from the actual pineal cells of the pineal gland itself. If the cells are dividing quickly, they are considered pinealoblastomas, whereas tumours with slow-growing cells are called pinealomas. 

Symptoms

Hydrocephalus is usually a presenting symptom of pineal tumours, resulting from a blocked cerebrospinal fluid pathway.

Treatment / Standard of Care

Treatment for pineal tumours is usually biopsy, or if small, surgical removal. Radiation therapy follows and some treatment centres are using chemotherapy.

Prognosis  

A prognosis is an estimate of the likely progress of a disease after a diagnosis, based on an average patient group. Since every person is different, please take time to talk with your health care team about how this information applies to you.

By clicking on 'Expand,' a statistic on the prognosis for pineal tumours will be shown.

Expand for Prognosis Information

References

Image credited to http://radiopaedia.org/cases/pineal-tumour-histology-unknown

At just 28, Aaron Ramler had already been through a lifetime of hospital visits, tests and treatments. A photographer and apprentice electrician, Aaron was diagnosed with an advanced pineal tumour in 2007. Today he is a brain tumour survivor that doctors call a medical miracle. Read Aaron's inspiring story about beating the odds >>