Pineal region tumors of childhood

Pineal region tumors are not uncommon in childhood, with an incidence of 5 to 10% of all brain neoplasms. Although they vary greatly in histologic type, pineal parenchymal tumors and germ-cell tumors are frequently seen. A pathological diagnosis of tumor type is imperative because the necessity of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the particular tumor types. In clinical practice, however, surgery in this region is still a difficult procedure due to the close vicinity of the deep venous system, the mesencephalon and the diencephalon. In these tumors, surgical intervention is curative in only 20 to 30% of cases; local or craniospinal axis radiotherapy and different chemotherapeutic agents may be required in the remaining ones. Therefore, histological confirmation is vital prior to treatment for appropriate management in children with pineal region tumors. In this chapter, we will review the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of the pineal region tumors of childhood. © 2012 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.