Papillary tumor of the pineal region: Case report and review of the literature

Neurocirugia (Astur : Engl Ed). 2019 Jan-Feb;30(1):38-43. doi: 10.1016/j.neucir.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Apr 22.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Papillary tumor of the pineal region is a rare neuroepithelial tumor characterized by papillary architecture and epithelial cytology, immunopositivity for cytokeratin and ependymal differentiation. It is considered grade II-III by the World Health Organization and was first described by Jouvet in 2003. We present a 34-year-old male with headaches, blurred vision and normal examination. Radiological study showed a nodulocystic lesion in the pineal region compatible with pineocytoma. Surgery was performed using an infratentorial supracerebellar approach, finding a cystic tumor in the quadrigeminal cistern which was completely resected. Histopathology reported a papillary tumor of the pineal region. The patient made good progress without adjuvant therapy, and after 57 months of follow-up he remained asymptomatic and free of recurrence. A review of the literature was performed to collect all the cases published with gross total resection and no complementary treatment. In conclusion, there is still much to be learned about the pathogenesis, prognosis and management of this tumor.

Keywords: Glándula pineal; Hidrocefalia; Hydrocephalus; Immunohistochemistry; Inmunohistoquímica; Pineal gland; Pineal gland tumor; Tumor de la glándula pineal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial* / surgery
  • Pineal Gland*