PINEAL BODY TUMORS

Abstract

Sixteen patients with pineal body tumors have been evaluated. Ten patients were treated definitively with a combination of surrgical decompression for increased intracranial pressu re followed by postoperative irradiation. Five of these patients lived beyond 5 years and 2 are living and clinically free of tumor at 16 and 18 months postirradiation. Three patients had significant palliation, but died between 2 and 4 years post treatment. Three patients were not diagnosed as having pineal body tumors until autopsy. Two patients died postoperatively following attempt at decompression for increased intracranial pressure and 1 patient died 4 months after a Torkildsen procedure without having postoperrative irradiation. An early clinical diagnosis followed by decompressive surgery and postoperative irradiation can be expec ted to improve results in such tumors.