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Pineal region tumors

Pineal region tumors can affect balance, eye movement and fluid around the brain. Our specialists use advanced imaging and surgical techniques to diagnose and treat these rare tumors.

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What are pineal region tumors?

Pineal region tumors begin in or near the pineal gland, a small endocrine gland in the center of the brain that regulates circadian rhythms. There are two primary categories of pineal region tumors: germ cell tumors and pineal parenchymal tumors. Other types of tumors can also appear in the pineal region because it contains many cell types found throughout the brain.

Types of pineal region tumors

Pineal parenchymal tumors – These rare tumors arise directly from the cells of the pineal gland (pineocytes) and can occur at any age. They can be non-cancerous (benign pineocytomas), cancerous (malignant pineoblastomas) or share features of both.

Germ cell tumors – While not related to the pineal gland itself, these rare tumors occur in the pineal region near the pituitary gland. Caused by the abnormal migration of cells during the earliest development of the patient’s body during pregnancy, these tumors commonly appear by adolescence. They can be benign teratomas, dermoid and epidermoid tumors, malignant germinomas, choriocarcinomas, endodermal sinus tumors, embryonal cell tumors, or mixed tumor types. 

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