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Pineal Region Tumors

As mentioned in the PRIMER, the pineal gland hangs on the brain behind its very center. French 18th century scientist Rene Descartes thought that the pineal gland was the core of the soul, noting that it was the only unpaired organ in the body, and located in the center of the brain. He thought that the gland controlled the movement of the various body "humors." In fact, the pineal gland is the "third eye" of the brain, and is responsible for telling the brain when it is day or night. It also controls the body's hormonal systems, sleep-wake cycle, and other so-called "circadian" body rhythms. It is in essence, the body's internal clock."

The gland produces a hormone called melatonin, (now a popular over-the-counter seller). Melatonin levels are what directly influence the function of various brain centers (appetite, sleep, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland). The cells of the pineal gland are unique in that they are not related to either the support cells of the brain (i.e. astrocytes, etc.), nor to the brain neurons. Rather, they develop on their own. For this reason, true pineal cell tumors are quite different from other brain tumors.

The pineal gland is also filled with brain support cells (astrocytes) and has a very dense input of nerve fibres coming from the eyes via a very circuitous and complicated route. Thus, the tumors of the astrocyte support cells of the pineal region are the same as the astrocytomas and GBM.

Pineal tumors, themselves, vary. They include:

  • Pinealocytoma ("benign" pineal cell tumor)
  • Pineoblastoma (more aggressive pineal cell tumor)
  • Pineal germinoma ( aggressive primitive cell tumor growing in the pineal region)
  • Pineal teratomas (rare tumors of multiple cell types that grow in the pineal region)
  • Pineal Cysts (most often not treated, unless large enough to cause hydrocephalus or visual symptoms)
Making the Diagnosis

A combination of CAT scan, MRI, and spinal fluid studies (including "markers" such as AFP, and spinal fluid cytology), will aid the surgeon to deliver a very good guess or outright diagnosis.

Treatment Decisions -- Tumor Biopsy

With all of these possibilities in such a small area, it is no wonder that most physicians feel strongly that at least a biopsy should be taken prior to considering a treatment course.

  1. Surgical Removal. These tumors should be approached surgically at first, with a best effort approach to remove as much as, if not all, of the tumor. With current surgical technology, the down side has essentially been reduced to well below the 2% risk mark, making the decision to operate much less difficult than previously. Today, the surgery can be minimized so that recovery time is shortened. Some patients with larger tumors may also develop hydrocephalus, requiring the placement of a shunt at the time of surgery or thereafter.
  2. Radiation. Some centers perform radiation, at least in a "test" dose (in the case of the germinoma) since some of the primitive tumors are quite sensitive, a full course of radiation might be considered.
  3. Craniospinal axis. If the spinal fluid cytology is positive, so-called "craniospinal" axis therapy may be considered. This is done because some of these tumors will "seed" down from the brain into the spinal canal.
  4. Chemotherapy. Many chemotherapy choices may be available. Some of these tumors are quite sensitive to chemotherapy, accounting for the vigorous chemo-approach of many neurooncologists to such lesions.



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pineal gland (7/18/2010)
my son is 12 years old and has a pineal glad cyst. should i be concerned about this. i out it this way i am overly concerned about this and cant get to another doctor till october. i think there is something wrong with this picture.....

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Pineal tumour (6/28/2010)
My cuisine suffered Brain tumour.Operation successfully done.And Radiotherapy also done.Is it curable treatment.Kindly send me the feed back

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My husbands symptoms have been progressively getting worse since February this year. At first they were so gradual that it was not noticable that something serious was wrong. He went to the doctors complaining of dizzyness and extreme tiredness and was told 'sounds like tired out old man syndrome to me'. Needless to say we are now forwarding a written complaint to the medical board about this. Blood tests were done but nothing showed up so the doctor advised that his problems must be stress related. In middle may we were so worried as his motor abilities were by now very impared, his memory loss was very noticeable and his balance was very poor, I made an appointment to see another doctor who referred us to a Neurologist. The NHS appointment came through 26 August. Not willing to wait this long, we paid private to see a Neuroligist and saw him within a week. Thank god for this man. Because we were not privately medically insured he arranged for my husband to have an immediate CT scan on the NHS, within a week he was admitted to hospital for further tests, had a MRI Scan which showed a pineal tumour. From seeing the neurologist he has now had brain surgery to take a biopsy of the tumour, re-routed the hydrocephalus to drain naturally, this whole process taking less than a month. We are awaiting the results of the tumour but within 2 days, his walking, balance, speech, in fact all his symptoms are almost back to normal. His memory is not perfect but hopefully will improve over time due to the trauma settling down. So much so 3 days after surgery he is coming home awaiting the results. He has been told that if it is malignant they will offer either chemotherapy or radiotherapy as where the tumour is sited on the pineal gland there is not a lot of leway for surgery to be done. However hopefully things can only get better. So if you are diagnosed with this, there is always hope and with gods willing, you can get over this.

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I found my Pineal Tumor in 2004.I was told too it was nothing to worry about but over the years to date it grows bigger and headaches and pressure are horrible, I was heathly mom who had alot going for me.Now I am on disability and going thru alot neurological conditions.We live in SC. While we lived in FL (we were military) I got IV of vitiams and Glutathione which was shrinking this tumor naturally!!!! But I haven't been able to get it here and now its growing again!! It seems to me that if some doctors can't money off of you they don't want to help you. I have spoken to clinic in NY. I do understand alot of these stories I live it. I am very sorry but look up natural doctors and they do these treatments. Alot of doctors are taught the Pineal serves no purpose but God doesn't but anything in your body that doesn't serve a purpose. Please I know it is scary and hard. I pass out at times and have alot of weakness. I look up to GOD where my strength comes from. I have educated alot of doctors along the way due to my medical records showing the proof. Also, you can find liquid Glutathione from Swanson. This may help you or not? Natural herbs have helped me more than anything else at this point. I want to tell you if you are the person or watching your loved one go through this, I know its hard for both parties. I love you both and keep on trucking, I know its very hard and flustrating but you know yourself or your loved one!!!! Get as many as opions as you need. Most of all we don't understand why we walk thru certain things but God does and he doesn't give us more than we can handle, his arms are not to short cuz you see I was told I would die 6 years ago and I AM STILL HERE!!! We all have a purpose. Love yourself where you are even when you can't stand yourself, I know!! Take Care there is help its just getting to it or affording it!! Love you all- Kim

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Peneal tumor! (6/7/2010)
My son just turned 3 on sat, June 5th, 2010. He has stage four neuroblastoma. One is on his peneal gland. They plan on doing surgery to remove it. There are a lot of GOOD surgeons that have done this kind of thing before. But he isn't due for surgery until all of the ones in his brain have shrunk smaller. He has abdominal surgery in a week or two for the one on his adrenal gland. I don't know if this helps the person looking for "Chrystal" but try looking into oncologists and surgeons who get cancerous tumors out of the brain. They do it fairly often and may be better able to help you.

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Pineal Gland Cyst (5/25/2010)
My wife Paula was diagnosed with a Pineal Gland Cyst back in September 2008. We were referred to a Neurologist in "The Royal Victoria Hospital" Belfast.This doctor was really UNHELPFUL and told Paula that this was a common finding now with the use of CAT Scan and MRI.His very words to this day are "simple Pineal Cyst." This was totally unacceptable for us as Paula was in chronic pain with cluster headaches and sickness and fatigue that has never abated since September 2008. This Neurologist prescribed Topomax for siezures,prochlaperazine for balance,Diazepam for anxiety and muscle relaxent,Prozac for mood,Diclofenac for inflammation,Amytriptaline for pain,Morphine for pain {Targinact},Furosemide for fluid retention and recently Tegretol for fits and Lyrica for mood. I forgot to mention Valoid and Omeprazol for sickness and stomach.
Even now as I read the list of medication I am staggered. 19 tablets morning and night and about 8 during wakeing hours!!!
I forgot to mention that my wife was a very fit and healthy 33 year old mother,wife and business owner,with no real medical history of note.
This "INCIDENTAL CYST" has robbed Paula of her life. She is now totally disabled with bouts of rage,blackouts and chronic depression.
I really did not think that any Doctor, never mind an emminent Doctor such as Stanley Hawkins would leave an another human being in such agonizing pain.
I have had my eyes opened with regard to Neurologists and the medical field in general. I have scoured the internet with hundreds of hours of research regarding the Pineal Gland and the successess that "OTHER" countries have had in treating this cyst. 98% success rate with the removal of this cyst and almost 100% sure that there was no recurrance of this cyst.
Any how please do not give up your search,there are surgeons that successfully operate for this cyst. We have a meeting with a "NEW NEUROSURGEON" on Thursday 27/05/10 and we are both very optimistic about this.
We are from Northern Ireland and we do not have the medical equipment here to treat this condition and we have both come to the agreement that alot of Neurologists do not like to operate on this cyst because of where it is and because they do not like to fail. This is a very HUMAN problem but one that you must remember. Do not take NO for an answer....there are wonderful,brave surgeons who are willing to treat people with this cyst.
Your daughters cyst is very large like Paulas which is 1.7cm x 1cm x 1.5cm. The National Organization of Rare Diseases states that when a Pineal Gland Cyst is OVER .5cm, HALF A CENTIMETRE, it is considered RARE!!!! God bless your daughter and You as I know what you are going through. I have lost the wife I loved and knew for 20 years,the kids have lost their mother and Paula has lost the last three years of her life...But there is light now at the end of the tunnel.
Please keep your chin up and REMEMBER do not let the doctors convince you that nothing can be done.I really think that some of them think they have the power of life and death over us ordinary folk and they have been talking down to us for 3 years, but no more. My email address is charliek3@sky.com. I would love to hear of any treatment offered to your daughter or indeed any news from people with a Pineal Gland Cyst. Good luck to everyone and thanks to sites such as this we can all help each other with encouragement and information

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PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE A 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH A GROWING CYST ON THE PINEAL GLAND AND FOUR YEARS AGO THEY TOLD US NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT WELL IT IS TO WORRY ABOUT. SHE IS NOW IN THE MENTAL WARD OF OUR HOSPITAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL NORTH IN INDIANAPOLIS WHERE THEY ARE TREATING HER FOR RAGE FITS BLACKOUTS BUT IT IS NOT BI POLAR DEPRESSION IT IS THE PINEAL CYST THAT IS NOW 1.4 IN HER BRAIN. I NEED A DOCTOR WHO HAS TAKEN THEM OUT WITH POSITIVE RESULTS I WILL GIVE YOU MY HOME AND CARS ANYTHING JUST PLEASE HELP ME MAKE MY DAUGHTER WELL. I ONLY HAVE ONE CHILD AND SHE HAS TWO LITTLE CHILDREN WHO NEED THEIR MOMMIE. I FEAR THAT SHE WILL NEVER RETURN HOME UNLESS SOMEONE TAKES THIS HORRIBLE THING OUT OF HER HEAD TO MAKE HER BETTER. PLEASE PLEASE IF YOU KNOW OF A SURGEON OR ANYONE WHO CAN HELP PLEASE CALL ME. I CANNOT GO ON MUCH LONGER WITH THIS WORRY. MY DAUGHER CRYSTAL WELLS IS THE REASON I GET UP OUT OF BED.

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pineal gland cysts (3/12/2010)
I have been diagnosed with pineal gland cysts. I would like to if this would in danger my life. And what is the best prossible treament for it? How do one develop a pineal gland cysts

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I have been diagnosed for almost 2yrs now and i am only getting worse.. and my doctors havent done any of these tests to me all i have ever had was a mri. I am very worried what should i do ?

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Is endoscopy of brain cyst done in India?

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I was diagnosed with this about 5yrs ago. I am always tired, require 15hrs of sleep sometimes, and seem to have very irregular sleep habits. I seem to be able to get my best quality sleep from about 4-6am and through 2pm. This is making it very difficult for me to find and keep a good job. I am a very dedicated worker, highly intelligent and always eager to learn more and do more, but it makes it very difficult for me to function during typical, "normal" work hours. Do you find this is a common problem for other people with this diagnosis?

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