Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2012:3:125.
doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.102350. Epub 2012 Oct 13.

Pineal epidermoid

Satya B Senapati  1 , Sudhansu S Mishra, Ashis Patnaik, Sunil K Patra
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pineal epidermoid

Satya B Senapati et al. Surg Neurol Int. 2012.

Abstract

Background: Tumors of pineal region are uncommon, accounting for ≤1% of intracranial tumors in adults and 3-8% of pediatric brain tumors. Epidermoid cysts account for 0.2-1% of all intracranial tumors. The majority occur in and around the cerebellopontine angle and suprasellar area. Getting an epidermoid in pineal region is very rare.

Case description: We report a case of pineal epidermoid, which was diagnosed correctly as epidermoid depending on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Knowing its benign nature, we accordingly planned for its near-total removal.

Conclusion: Most cases of pineal tumors present as obstructive hydrocephalus. They either require pre- or postoperative ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. If properly planned, many benign pineal tumors may be successfully excised and, most importantly, postoperative VP shunt could be avoided.

Keywords: Epidermoid tumors; pineal tumors; three-quarter prone position.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) CT brain: A large well-defined hypodense and nonenhancing mass in the pineal region, patchy calcification in the peripheral part of the tumor, with hydrocephalus. (b and c) MRI brain: A complex heterogeneous, ill-marginated mass in pineal region, with extension encroaching midbrain and infratentorium. The mass was compressing the aqueduct and causing obstructive hydrocephalus
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a-c) MRI bra in: On T2 image, the mass is hyperintense. On FLAIR and DWI, the mass shows some restriction within the lesion with marked hyperintense signal
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Glistening tumor in quadrigeminal cistern. (b) Tumor displaced major vessels downward. (c) Histopathology showing keratin in layers. (d) Post-op CT scan showing minimal residual tumor and decreased hydrocephalus
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ausman JI, Malik GM, Dujovny M, Mann R. Three-quarter prone approach to the pineal-tentorial region. Surg Neurol. 1988;29:298–306. - PubMed
    1. Berger MS, Wilson CB. Epidermoid cysts of the posterior fossa. J Neurosurg. 1985;62:214–9. - PubMed
    1. Konovalov AN, Spallone A, Pitzkhelauri DL. Pineal epidermoid cysts: Diagnosis and management. J Neurosurg. 1999;91:370–4. - PubMed
    1. Rubin G, Scienza R, Pasqualin A, Rosta L, Da Pian R. Craniocerebral epidermoids and dermoids. A review of 44 cases. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1989;97:1–16. - PubMed

Publication types