[A case of pineocytoma totally removed].

A case of pineocytoma which is thought to be uncommon is reported. A 50-year-old man complaining of occasional dizziness and tinnitus of the left ear was referred to our Center on Feb. 10, 1989. No noteworthy signs were detected out neurologically. Plain CT scan disclosed a homogeneous iso- to high-density area in the pineal region, which was markedly enhanced on the post-contrast study. On the T1 MRI, that pineal tumor appeared as a low intensity area and on the T2, a high intensity area with intratumoral low signal intensity suggesting calcification. The tumor was conspicuously enhanced by Gd-DTPA. Left vertebral angiography demonstrated a faint tumor blush which was confirmed to be fed by the medial and the lateral posterior choroidal and the thalamo-perforating arteries bilaterally. The superior thalamic and the internal cerebral veins were displaced upwardly and the precentral cerebellar vein posteriorly. On Feb. 20, the tumor was totally removed via infratentorial-supracerebellar approach. Histological examination of the removed tumor disclosed that it was a "true" pineocytoma. The patient was discharged on Mar. 15 and has been free from signs and symptoms by the 4th postoperative month. Neither irradiation nor chemotherapy was added. Literature concerned are reviewed and brief discussion on pineocytoma done.