How does Pinealoma cause precocious puberty?
A pinealoma is a tumor of the pineal gland, a part of the brain that produces melatonin. If a pinealoma destroys the cells of the pineal gland in a child, it can cause precocious puberty.
Can a pineal tumor be benign?
Pineal parenchymal tumors: These tumors arise directly from pineocytes, cells of the pineal gland itself. These rare tumors can occur at any age and can be benign (Pineocytomas), malignant (Pineoblastomas) or have intermediate grade differentiation- meaning they share features of both malignant and benign tumors.
Is Pineocytoma curable?
Because pineocytomas are quite rare, there are no consensus guidelines on the best treatment for these tumors . However, surgery to remove the entire tumor is considered the standard treatment.
Can you survive without a pineal gland?
The pineal gland is indispensable to a process most people take for granted: maintaining a consistent schedule from day to day. Without it, the body would struggle to sleep and wake at the same time, and might not know how to respond to changes in light levels properly.
Is Pinealoma malignant?
A type of brain tumor that forms in or around the pineal gland (a tiny organ near the center of the brain). Pinealomas may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). They include pineocytomas, pineoblastomas, and pineal germinomas.
What is a pinealoma?
A pinealoma, sometimes called a pineal tumor, is a rare tumor of the pineal gland in your brain. The pineal gland is a tiny organ located near the center of your brain that secretes certain hormones, including melatonin.
What is the prognosis of a pinealoma?
If you have a pinealoma, your prognosis depends on the type of tumor and how large it is. Most people make a full recovery from benign pinealomas, and even many types of malignant ones. However, if the tumor grows quickly or spreads to other body parts, you may face additional challenges.
What is a pineal tumor?
Pinealomas account for only 0.5 to 1.6 percent of brain tumors. Pineal tumors can be both benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous). They’re given a grade between 1 and 4 based on how fast they grow, with one being the slowest growing grade, and 4 being the most aggressive. The are several types of pinealomas, including:
What are the radiotherapy options for Pineal tumors?
Pineocytomas require only local radiotherapy to the tumor (54 Gy). In pinealoblastomas, a high probability of spinal seeding should lead to craniospinal radiotherapy, since they are radiosensitive (25 to 30 Gy on the neuroaxis with a pineal boost of 40 Gy aimed at more effective local disease control).