Pinealoma Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

A pinealoma, or pineal gland tumor, is an uncommon brain tumor. Several hormones, including melatonin, are secreted by the pineal gland, a tiny organ located close to the center of the brain. It controls the biological rhythms of the organism.

Pinealomas are significantly more prevalent in children than they are in adults. They are responsible for less than one percent of brain tumors seen in adults and anywhere from three to eleven percent of brain tumors found in children.

Pineal tumors can be benign or cancerous. Depending on how quickly they grow, they are assigned a grade between 1 and 4, with 4 being one of the most aggressive.

Pinealoma Symptoms

Pineal tumor symptoms depend on the size of tumor, location, and type of tumor. Most of the time, small tumors do not cause any symptoms. As they continue to grow, tumors have the potential to press against adjacent structures, which can result in increased pressure within the skull.

Pineal tumors are a group of different mass lesions that start in or near the pineal gland. When they compress, invade, or spread outside the boundaries of the tumor, neoplasms in this area exhibit symptoms.

The following are symptoms of a bigger pinealoma:

• Headaches
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Vision issues
• Feeling tired/irritability
• Eye-movement issues
• Problems with balance
• Difficulty walking/tremors
• Premature puberty

Pinealomas can impair the hormone-regulating endocrine systems of youngsters. 

Pinealoma Causes

Cancer is a hereditary disease, meaning that it develops as a result of mutations in the genes that regulate how our cells work. Cancer cells can grow and spread more rapidly when genes are altered like in many cancer types. The majority of tumors in the pineal area have unknown causes. The inherited genetic condition bilateral retinoblastoma can cause pineoblastomas, and these tumors can develop in the pineal gland. 

Researchers are still not yet clear about its causes. However, RB1 and DICER1 gene alterations can raise a person's risk of getting a pineoblastoma. Pinealomas may be passed down genetically, as mutations can be inherited from parents. Radiation exposure and the use of specific chemicals are further potential risk factors for this disease.

Pinealoma Diagnosis

Carefull examination by doctor is crucial factor in the initial investigation. They also go through the patient's medical background and inquire about any family members who may have pinealomas.

The doctor may do a neurological examination on the patient based on the symptoms to assess reflexes and motor function. In addition, the patient must perform a few easy tasks in preparation for the exam. To determine the type of pineal tumor the doctor may perform additional tests, such as the following:

• A visual field test.
• Imaging scans.
• Biopsy.
• A spinal puncture.
• A blood test.

Pinealoma Treatment

Different things affect how a pineal tumor is treated, including;

Size and location determine whether a growth is benign or cancerous, as well as its classification. The conventional treatment for most forms of pineal tumors is radiation, which can help determine whether the tumor has spread further or not. 

Surgery is the primary line of defense against malignancies in the pineal area. The purpose of surgery to identify the tumor type and remove as much tumor as possible without aggravating the patient's symptoms.