Pineal region tumors

Pineal region is a one type of brain tumor. This occurs in the pineal region of the brain. The pineal gland produces a melatonin hormone. Melatonin hormone regulates our body’s internal activities such as when we wake or when we sleep.
There are many types of Pineal region tumors –

1) Germinomas
2) Astrocytomas
3) Meningiomas
4) Pineocytomas
5) Pineoblastomas

Causes of Pineal region tumors

In our brain, cells grow in a proper order. But in some cases this growth increases in an uncontrolled way and the cells continue to divide and form a tumor. This tumor may be a benign or malignant. Benign tumor grows continuously and the cells do not spread from the original site. The malignant tumor may spread to other parts of the brain. It can also destroy the other tissues of the brain.

Pineal tumor is very common in adults but it can also occur in children. This affects the whole of the central nervous system (CNS).

Signs and Symptoms

Fallowing are the symptoms of tumor in pineal region –

1) Headache
2) Vomiting
3) Sickness
4) Sight problems
5) Tiredness
6) Irritability
7) Difficulty in looking upwards
8) Feel difficulty in focusing on close object


Treatment for Pineal region tumor

The treatment of Pineal region tumor depends upon various factors such as patient’s health and the size of the tumor. In the treatment of brain tumor it is required to reduce the pressure in the skull. To reduce the swelling around the tumor, steroid drugs are helpful. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy are some other treatment methods to remove the tumor.