What is Pineocytoma of The Brain?
Pineocytoma is a benign (non-malignant) tumor of the pineal gland of the brain. They are less aggressive tumors and have a relatively good prognosis compared to other brain tumors. The pineal gland is a gland in the brain that secretes a hormone that regulates sleep. A pineocytoma is a slow-growing tumor that rarely spreads to other parts of the body. It is more common in adults.Disease Etiology
There is no well-known cause; however certain genetic mutations (faulty changes in the genes) are responsible for the development of pineocytoma brain.Disease Epidemiology
It is slightly more common in females. The mean age for the development of pineocytoma ranges between 20-60 years.Signs and Symptoms
The patients may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- Hydrocephalus (enlarge the appearance of the head due to excessive fluid buildup in the brain)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Involuntary eye movements
- Blurred or double vision
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- Imaging tests such as X-Ray, CT-scan (computerized tomography), PET-scan (Positron emission tomography) help detect the site, size, and location of the tumor.
- Tumor biopsy and histopathological examination