Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2021 , Vol 31 , Num 1
Pineal Region Tumors
Tuncer TURHAN1
1Kazım Dirik Mah. 185 sok 6/A Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye The pineal gland is located at the midpoint of the brain, in an area surrounded by eloquent brain structures and veins of the brainstem. Tumors of this region are often seen in childhood, are very rare, and tend to be of different histopathological types than other brain tumors. Treatment algorithms are also naturally varied and require teamwork. All of these algorithms start with a surgical procedure. Surgical interventions for both the tumor and its complications such as hydrocephalus may be required not only during the diagnosis phase but also during the follow-up of the patient.

Among the tumors of the pineal region, there are some tumors such as mature teratoma and pineocytoma that require total excision. These require the aggressive surgical behavior that we are used to in neurosurgery practice. Total removal is risky, but inevitable for complete cure of the patient. However, the germ cell tumor group includes subtypes, each with separate treatment options and different responses to these treatments. For example, in germinomas, taking only a biopsy and avoiding the risks of microsurgery can be a more advantageous option for the patient. In addition, hydrocephalus often accompanies this complex and challenging anatomy and histopathology. This review has been prepared to summarize the decision-making algorithms especially for neurosurgeons. Anahtar Kelimeler : Pineal tumors, Neurosurgery, Surgical treatment