Pineoblastoma

Case contributed by Mohammad A. ElBeialy
Diagnosis probable

Presentation

Chronic headache and dizziness.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Male
mri
  • the pineal region shows a lobulated soft tissue mass lesion, it measures about 2.9 X 2.7 X 2.7 cm in its main diameters 
  • the lesion shows mildly hypointense T1 and hyperintense T2 / FLAIR signal, with inhomogenous post-contrast enhancement
  • the lesion shows mild restricted diffusion
  • a suspected small signal void focus is seen at its peripheral anterior aspect of the lesion (which was evident on CT study that was available with the patient) 
  • the lesion is seen compressing the superior portion of the cerebral aqueduct with moderate supratentorial hydrocephalus as well as transependymal CSF permeation
  • mild downward herniation of the cerebellar tonsils is noted

MR spectroscopy of the lesion shows:

  • elevation of the choline and lipid lactate peaks
  • depression of the neural markers; N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and creatine (Cr)
  • prominent glutamate and taurine peaks at 3.4 ppm with short TE signal voxel MR spectroscopy

Case Discussion

Pineal body malignant mass lesion; pineoblastoma with moderate supratentorial hydrocephalus. The differential diagnosis is a germinoma which gives typical MRI appearance, yet with the calcification is typically central in germinoma and peripheral in pineoblastoma.

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