scholarly journals Meningioma of the pineal region: a surgical series of 10 cases

1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 586-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Nikolaevich Konovalov ◽  
Aldo Spallone ◽  
David Iraklevich Pitzkhelauri

✓ Ten cases of meningioma of the pineal region were histologically verified at a single institution during an 8-year period. These represented 0.3% of 3061 intracranial meningiomas, as well as 6.2% of 164 pineal tumors. Patients were predominantly women. Symptoms and signs of increased intracranial pressure were most common, whereas Parinaud's syndrome was observed in only one case. Computerized tomography (CT) was the main diagnostic test used in the present series. It usually revealed a hyperdense mass with high-intensity contrast enhancement and a calcified mass eccentrically located at the periphery, which returned to its central location postsurgically and was likely to represent a calcified pineal gland. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in the more recent cases and confirmed the suspicion raised by CT of a meningioma with a calcified mass at its periphery. Surgery was performed using an occipital transtentorial microsurgical approach with the patient placed in the semisitting position. Gross-total tumor removal was achieved in all cases, although this required sacrifice of the vein of Galen in six patients. Venous occlusion was performed only after adequate intraoperative verification of functional occlusion and blood flow diversion from the galenic system and had no consequences in any case but one. This latter patient had an infiltrative meningioma that was removed at the expense of intraoperative sacrifice of the two internal cerebral veins, as well as unavoidable trauma to the region of the quadrigeminal plate. All the remaining patients improved postsurgery, and only one had a permanent visual field deficit as a result of the surgical approach. Pineal meningiomas represent a rare subgroup of pineal tumors that can be treated surgically with reasonably good results. Sacrifice of major basal veins may be required to achieve radical tumor removal and can be tolerated by the patient provided that functional occlusion of the galenic system, as indicated by preoperative angiography, is verified during surgery.

Author(s):  
Christoph M. Woernle ◽  
René L. Bernays ◽  
Nicolas de Tribolet

Lesions in the pineal region are topographically located in the centre of the brain in the diencephalic-epithalamic region. An area where the brain is bounded ventrally by the quadrigeminal plate, midbrain tectum, and in-between the left and right superior colliculi, dorsally by the splenium of the corpus callosum, caudally by the cerebellar vermis and rostrally by the posterior aspects of the third ventricle. Major anatomical and surgical challenges are the vein of Galen located dorsally, the precentral cerebellar vein caudally, the internal cerebral veins anteriorly and the basal vein of Rosenthal laterally. Most pineal region tumours can be safely removed by both approaches depending on the surgeon’s experience: the occipital transtentorial approach is recommended in presence of associated hydrocephalus or a steep straight sinus and low location of the tumour and the supracerebellar infratentorial approach for posterior third ventricle tumours.


1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Mullan ◽  
Saeid Mojtahedi ◽  
Douglas L. Johnson ◽  
R. Loch Macdonald

✓ The literature on the formation of cerebral veins is reviewed to obtain a better understanding of some cerebrovascular anomalies. Clinical observations such as the entry of the superior ophthalmic vein into the cavernous sinus through the inferior rather than the superior orbital fissure, the relative infrequency of middle cerebral vein backflow in the presence of an extensive cavernous fistula, and the relative infrequency of hemorrhage in relation to the inferior petrosal fistula all relate to the persistence of an older venous pathway. The frequent occurrence of hemorrhage in association with the superior petrosal sinus fistula and the frequent failure of the superior petrosal sinus to connect to the cavernous sinus similarly have an embryological explanation. The frequent association of the vein of Galen aneurysm and an absent or deformed straight sinus probably relates to the time at which the paired internal cerebral veins fuse into one channel. It is speculated that the origins of cerebral venous malformations (CVMs) and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) probably relate to sequential formation and absorption of surface veins, which occur in human embryonic development mainly in the 40- to 80-mm length interval, although persistent AVM growth is possible even after birth. The frequent absence or anomaly of the middle cerebral vein and its failure to communicate with the cavernous sinus in the presence of both CVMs and AVMs are linked to the late development of that vein and to its even later connection to the cavernous sinus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. V11
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Donoho ◽  
Guillermo Aldave

Pineal region tumors represent a formidable challenge to the neurosurgeon. Choosing the right approach is key to optimizing the extent of resection and minimizing surgical morbidity. In this video, the authors show an interhemispheric transcallosal approach to a pineal region tumor in a 15-year-old boy. The advantage of this corridor over posterior approaches is that it provides a nice view of the tumor plane with the venous complex, especially while dissecting tumor from the anterior aspect of the internal cerebral veins on their vertical path. Thus, this approach represents a safe and effective alternative for selected pineal tumors. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2021.4.FOCVID2120.


2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 805-809
Author(s):  
S. Vattoth ◽  
Y.S. Kim ◽  
E. Norman ◽  
G.H. Roberson

Cavum veli interpositi is an open CSF space in the roof of the third ventricle that surrounds the internal cerebral veins, and is a forward extension of the quadrigeminal plate cistern. To the best of our knowledge, spontaneous resolution of a cavum veli interpositi has not been reported in the literature to date. Interestingly, case reports of spontaneous resolution of cystic cavum septum pellucidum in three patients and eighteen arachnoid cyst cases has been described in the literature. We describe the spontaneous resolution of a cavum veli interpositi or cyst in cavum veli interpositi in a 35-year-old man and review the literature of spontaneous resolution of cavum septum pellucidum and arachnoid cysts.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
David I. Pitskhelauri ◽  
Alexander N. Konovalov ◽  
Valeri N. Kornienko ◽  
Natalia K. Serova ◽  
Nikita V. Arutiunov ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Surgical resection of deep-seated midline brain tumors does not always resolve obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathways, and an additional operation—ventricular shunting—is required. To prevent postoperative obstructive hydrocephalus, we combine tumor removal and internal ventricular shunting in 1 stage. METHODS Between 2000 and 2006, 82 patients with deep-seated midline brain tumors (tumors of the third ventricle, pineal region, thalamus, upper brainstem, and superior half of the fourth ventricle) underwent 84 tumor resections with intraoperative internal ventricular shunting. Two types of intraoperative shunting were performed: direct third ventriculostomy with fenestration of the premammillary membrane of the third ventricle floor and Liliequist's membrane, 53 operations; and aqueductal stenting, 30 operations. In 1 patient, third ventriculostomy and aqueductal stenting were performed simultaneously. RESULTS As most of the tumors had an infiltrative growth pattern, gross total tumor removal was achieved in only 31% of patients in this series. There were no fatal outcomes related to the surgery. Follow-up data were collected in 73 patients (89%) and ranged from 2 to 68 months (median, 16 months). Additional shunting because of inadequate function of stoma or stent was performed in 13 patients at various times after surgery (median, 30 days). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that at 12 and 24 months the intraoperative direct third ventriculostomy success rates were 67 and 61%, respectively; aqueductal stenting success rates were 93% at both 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSION Intraoperative direct third ventriculostomy and aqueductal stenting under direct visual control were found to be reliable methods of hydrocephalus management in patients with deep-seated midline brain tumors.


1983 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 654-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashid Jooma ◽  
Brian E. Kendall

✓ The management of pineal region tumors remains controversial. Advocates of a conservative approach emphasize the excellent results of radiotherapy, particularly with germinomas, while a number of recent reports have demonstrated the safety of direct surgery. In order to improve treatment planning, attempts have been made to distinguish the various tumor types by computerized tomography (CT) and by the use of markers for germ-cell tumors. This paper reports a study of 35 patients with pineal tumors including two ectopic germinomas. Pretreatment CT was performed in all 35 patients, and human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein levels were assayed in 11. Histological verification was available for 33 tumors; the other two were characterized by clinical and CT features plus tumor markers. Of the 27 tumor operations, 21 were for a pineal mass and six for ectopic germinoma or metastasis. There was no operative mortality. Morbidity was minimal, and surgery did not increase the incidence of subarachnoid seeding. Each histological type of tumor has a typical appearance on CT scanning, although, in the individual case, a firm diagnosis is not always possible. However, consideration of CT scans together with the clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid cytology, tumor markers, and (if there is still doubt) response to a small dose of irradiation will generally allow a specific diagnosis with a high degree of probability. In this way, germinomas may be selected for radiotherapy and the tumors less likely to respond may be subjected to primary surgery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. V8
Author(s):  
David S. Hersh ◽  
Katherine N. Sanford ◽  
Frederick A. Boop

Described by Dandy in 1921, the posterior interhemispheric transcallosal approach provides an operative corridor to the pineal region, posterior third ventricle, and upper midbrain. Intervenous-interforniceal and paravenous-interforniceal variants have been utilized for midline and paramidline pathology, respectively. The intervenous-interforniceal variant capitalizes on the natural separation of the internal cerebral veins, which are found medial to the forniceal crura at this level, to provide a safe corridor to the tumor while minimizing the risk of injury to the fornices. Here, the authors describe a posterior interhemispheric transcallosal approach using the intervenous-interforniceal variant for resection of a periaqueductal pilocytic astrocytoma.The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/mtQKEXEveTg.


1983 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Ciric ◽  
Michael Mikhael ◽  
Thomas Stafford ◽  
Lawrence Lawson ◽  
Rafael Garces

✓ The authors have reported on 108 patients with pituitary macroadenomas (measuring 2 cm in at least one diameter) who underwent 117 transsphenoidal operations and five craniotomies, and were followed for periods ranging from 6 months to 14 years. Vision improved in 90% of the patients. Gross total tumor removal with no evidence of residual tumor tissue demonstrable on the postoperative computerized tomography scan was accomplished in 41% of cases. However, gross total tumor removal is not synonymous with complete tumor removal. Endocrine cure was possible in 25% of prolactin-secreting and 20% of growth hormone-secreting adenomas. The incidence of recurrence was 12%, with the majority occurring from 4 to 8 years postoperatively. Both the tumors with suprasellar extension of more than 2 cm and the hard fibrotic tumors had a higher recurrence rate. Postoperative administration of radiation therapy has been associated with a significantly lower recurrence rate than when this therapy was withheld. Transsphenoidal surgery of pituitary macroadenomas confined to the extra-arachnoid space is associated with a relatively small number of complications. The operative technique used in this series is described.


2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 500-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahito Miyazawa ◽  
Shinji Fukui ◽  
Naoki Otani ◽  
Nobusuke Tsuzuki ◽  
Hiroshi Katoh ◽  
...  

✓ The authors report the case of a 53-year-old woman who experienced visual hallucinations diagnosed as peduncular hallucinosis (PH). The cause of the PH was compression of the quadrigeminal plate and/or the splenium due to a meningioma originating from the falcotentorial junction (pineal meningioma). The nature of the visual hallucinations was depicted in drawings created by the patient herself. This is the first report of PH caused by a tumor located in the pineal region.


1971 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bennett M. Stein

✓ In six patients with pineal tumors, a posterior fossa approach was used to explore the pineal region. This approach avoided the deep venous system and led to no mortality and minimal morbidity. Because a certain percentage of pineal lesions are benign and amenable to resection, it is recommended that all pineal tumors be explored prior to a decision regarding radiotherapy.


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