[Cystic pineocytoma successfully treated with synchronized chemoradiotherapy. Case report]

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 1989 Apr;29(4):333-7. doi: 10.2176/nmc.29.333.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A case of pineocytoma associated with intraventricular and meningeal metastasis is reported. The patient, a 25-year-old female, was admitted complaining of headache. Computed tomography revealed an irregular-shaped pineal lesion enhanced by contrast medium and accompanied by a cyst. An intraventricular cystic metastatic lesion and meningeal metastasis were also suggested. Biopsy of the pineal region proved the lesion to be a pineocytoma without neuronal or glial differentiation. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed, and radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy (ACNU and vincristine) was administered. This treatment apparently destroyed both the primary and metastatic lesions, and the patient returned to her normal life. In 4 years of follow-up there has been no recurrence of the tumor. Pineocytoma with meningeal metastasis usually has a poor prognosis, but in this case combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy was curative. Although pineocytoma is rarely accompanied by a cyst, in cases of a pineal lesion coexistent with a cyst, a diagnosis of pineocytoma should be considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / secondary
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Nimustine / administration & dosage
  • Pinealoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Pinealoma / drug therapy
  • Pinealoma / therapy*
  • Remission Induction
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Nimustine
  • Vincristine