Pineal region mass
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Masses in the pineal region have a relatively broad differential because of the variety of cell types found in the region.
If large enough, the mass may compress the tectal plate and may cause a defect in up-gaze (Parinaud syndrome) or obstructive hydrocephalus, if the cerebral aqueduct is compressed.
Intrinsic pineal tissue masses also tend to cause upward displacement of the internal cerebral veins. This is in distinction to tentorial meningiomas which depress the cerebral veins.
Differential diagnosis
- pineal parenchymal tumours
-
germ cell tumours
- pineal germinoma: most common (~ 50% of all tumours)
- pineal embryonal carcinoma
- pineal choriocarcinoma
- pineal yolk sac carcinoma: endodermal sinus tumour
- pineal teratoma
- astrocytoma of the pineal gland
- pineal metastasis
- pineal cyst
- meningioma near the pineal region
- other rare entities
If invasive, a tectal plate mass may be difficult to distinguish from a pineal mass.
-<p>Masses in the <strong>pineal region</strong> have a relatively broad differential because of the variety of cell types found in the region. </p><p>If large enough, the mass may compress the <a href="/articles/tectal-plate">tectal plate</a> and may cause a defect in up-gaze (<a href="/articles/parinaud-syndrome">Parinaud syndrome</a>) or <a href="/articles/obstructive-hydrocephalus">obstructive hydrocephalus</a>, if the <a href="/articles/cerebral-aqueduct">cerebral aqueduct</a> is compressed.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>- +<p>Masses in the <strong>pineal region</strong> have a relatively broad differential because of the variety of cell types found in the region. </p><p>If large enough, the mass may compress the <a href="/articles/tectal-plate">tectal plate</a> and may cause a defect in up-gaze (<a href="/articles/parinaud-syndrome">Parinaud syndrome</a>) or <a href="/articles/obstructive-hydrocephalus">obstructive hydrocephalus</a>, if the <a href="/articles/cerebral-aqueduct">cerebral aqueduct</a> is compressed.</p><p>Intrinsic pineal tissue masses also tend to cause upward displacement of the internal cerebral veins. This is in distinction to tentorial meningiomas which depress the cerebral veins.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
-<li><a title="Pineal gland metastases" href="/articles/pineal-gland-metastases">pineal metastasis</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/pineal-gland-metastases">pineal metastasis</a></li>
-<li>-<a href="/articles/saccular-cerebral-aneurysm">aneurysm</a> in the pineal region</li>- +<li>vein of Galen <a href="/articles/saccular-cerebral-aneurysm">aneurysm</a>
- +</li>